KUWAIT: Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) on Monday urged citizens and residents to be cautious when using coal, gas or kerosene to heat homes, camps and farms explaining that the emission of release of carbon monoxide causes suffocation, poisoning, injury or death. “Every year we deal with cases of injuries or deaths caused by the use of charcoal, wood, or gas as a result of not following the safety guidelines, especially after igniting and placing them in closed places. These types of accidents are more likely to happen during sleep,” said the Director of the Public Relations and Media Department at KFF, General Mohammad Al-Gharib, in a press statement.

Al-Gharib called on citizens to educate workers in camps, farms, and parks about the dangers of using coal, gas, and kerosene heaters in enclosed spaces and to replace them with other approved heating devices, with the need to follow the necessary safety guidelines.

He stressed the importance of taking the necessary precautions when lighting coal and making sure to have a fire extinguisher and ventilation in the area to avoid suffocation by toxic gases. He also mentioned the danger of using gas for heating and advised that the extensions and connections must be checked to ensure that there are no leaks and that the gas source must be shut off using the main switch and disconnected from the cylinder before going to sleep. — KUNA