A teenage girl who helped save a boy with her first aid skills has called on the government to back compulsory life-saving lessons in schools. Alisha Poyser, 16, says her own training meant ‘the difference between life and death’ when an 11-year-old fellow pupil suffered a serious head injury at school. Now the student has […]
CONTINUE READINGAuthor: Gemma Burr
Indian authorities slam poor high-rise fire safety
As modern cities opt for more high rise housing and corporate spaces, India’s fire safety authorities say fire safety mechanisms must be embedded seamlessly in planning. “We see too many steel and glass buildings that are inefficient at venting smoke that is the primary reason for death (by asphyxiation) due to fire. These buildings do […]
CONTINUE READINGTauranga adds fire safety rules
Tauranga City Council, New Zealand has reviewed its outdoor fire safely bylaw in partnership with the New Zealand Fire service to set additional safety restrictions and declare a total fire ban when the city is at risk. Mayor Stuart Crosby said the council had extended its outdoor fire bylaw to include a notification system to […]
CONTINUE READINGWA government defends underground busport safety designs
The Western Australian state opposition party has queried the safety of Perth City Link’s underground busport after allegations it would take up to six minutes to evacuate a bus that caught fire in the terminal or on a ramp. Labor frontbencher Bill Johnston said there were concerns about the emergency design features of the $209 […]
CONTINUE READINGStudent’s death was preventable, says coroner
A Chinese student who leapt five floors from her burning flat and died could have been saved if water sprinklers had been installed in the building. At a hearing, deputy NSW coroner Hugh Dillon criticised building regulations, the local council and developer Ray Finianos who built the Sydney block 10 centimetres short of the 25-metre […]
CONTINUE READINGHundreds affected by unapproved training glitch
Hundreds of people who completed first aid courses in Alberta, Canada – some of them for work – have been told they must re-do the training. One story – from Andrew Johnston, a child and youth care worker – is typical. “In March 2015, I took a weekend course for Emergency and Standard First Aid […]
CONTINUE READINGIreland’s police want drivers to carry safety equipment
Ireland’s Garda Commissioner has proposed a new road traffic offence with on-the-spot fines to penalise drivers who fail to carry safety items in their cars while driving. The gardaí (police) want to make it an offence for drivers not to have a working torch, breakdown triangle, high-visibility vest, first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher at […]
CONTINUE READINGWoman dies: Fire alarm was faulty
Wiltshire, UK Fire and Rescue has urged people to check their smoke alarms following the death of an elderly woman. Fire crews were called by neighbours after flames and smoke were sighted coming from a static caravan. The woman was pulled unconscious from the van and although attempts were made to resuscitate her, she died […]
CONTINUE READINGHouse fire prompts heater safety advice
UK firefighters have warned of the dangers of electrical heaters after a fire at a house in Chester. The blaze affected the ground floor of the property and crews had to use breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to extinguish it. Subsequently, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service issued the following safety advice: – Don’t […]
CONTINUE READINGCaravans being used to avoid safety laws
Queensland’s Fire and Emergency Service has warned illegal backpacker accommodation providers are a growing problem in the state. Laws were strengthened to ensure all commercial properties met more stringent rules after 15 backpackers died in the Childers hostel fire tragedy almost 15 years ago. But the fire service’s community safety manager Craig Lovell says there […]
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