Bushfire safety Essentials – what do you need at home. Part I.

The environment in the vicinity of a bushfire is extremely deadly. The radiant heat can cook you alive in seconds and smoke inhalation (according to some studies) kills 3 out of 4 casualties in fires. Therefore it is paramount to be properly prepared for evacuation and if that is not possible, survival in the house. Each member of the family should have a survival pack that consists at least the following:

·  Protective clothing: It is preferable to have heavy-duty drill cotton overalls (such as a boilersuit) that is fire retarded with any commercially available fabric fire retardant. If this is not possible, sturdy shoes with nitrone rubber soles (normal soles, even those made of rubber, conduct heat, melt and burn) without any hobnails, long heavy cotton or pure wool trousers or jeans and a long-sleeved pure wool pullover which does up to the neck. Underwear should be cotton, not nylon or polyester, and the socks pure wool. A strong brimmed hat that can be tied on or a strong cotton scarf or a woollen cap to protect you hair. If you use a balaclava, make sure that it is pure wool as some of the cheaper ones are synthetic. Balaclava is a good choise as it protects the forehead and cheeks that are more sensitive to heat than other parts of the body. It’s a good idea to have heavy canvas gardening gloves in case you need to move anything smouldering. Do NOT wear anything synthetic or light as it can catch fire very easily and burns fast. Do not wear shorts or short-leaved shirts as all skin exposed is easily burned by embers or by radiant heat.

·  Protective eyewear: protective goggles and a demisting stick suitable for fire emergencies to keep smoke and soot out of your eyes. Wrap-around sunnies are better than nothing, but make sure you have a strap to stop the wind from ripping them off your face. If you need eyeglasses to act efficiently, it is important to obtain a fit-over goggles.

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