5 gas safety DOS and definitely DO NOTS

Growing up, I was taught that when using a gas cooker, it would be much safer to light the match first before turning on the gas. That way, the gas is lit immediately it comes out of the burner, rather than building up and causing a fire if you were to light the match after turning the gas on. I wrote a post on fire safety here. Look that up also.

Gas is highly combustible and naturally odorless! Because of this odorless nature, these gases are mixed with odorants such as Hydrogen Sulfide or Ethyl Mercaptan so that they can be detected with the sense of smell. This way, one can tell when there’s a leak. In a household setting, you’d find either natural gas, methane, propane or butane gas…the smelly ones of course.

Gas explosions occur when the gas plus air mixture reaches a critical value, at which any spark, flame, or heat source can ignite. As the gas burns in a confined space with little ventilation, the pressure builds until it goes BOOM...which is almost immediately there’s even the slightest source of ignition.

If you can smell the gas in your house, it’s coming from a leak, whether a bad hose or an unlit cooker, or somewhere, anywhere! (Okay, I’m calm *takes deep breath*). 

So, here’s what you SHOULD NOT DO:

1. Don’t use your cell phone
2. Don’t light a match, cigarette, or candle or any fire!
3. Don’t turn on a light
4. Don’t switch on anything electrical, nothing at all. The sparks created can ignite a fire
5. Don’t touch anything! EXCEPT you’re already familiar with the shut off point of the gas supply!

And here’s what to DO:

1. Smell gas? Ruuuuunnnnnn! No, I’m serious! Grab everyone and leave the house!
2. Call your local emergency unit from OUTSIDE the house…like 50ft away!
3. If you decide to be brave, try turning off the source ONLY if you are already familiar with it
4. If you do not recall how to shut off the supply, please leave everything as is and find safety
5. Try to remember these tips, please? Print them out and stick them on your fridge!

Just to let you in on my future plans, my kids are so going to know these things. From CPR, to fire drills, to basic emergency drills, we are gonna do them all! 😐

Anyway, if you haven’t already done this, please take note of how to shut off the gas supply in your home in the event of a leak or an emergency. Try mastering it in the dark too, so you don’t have to turn on any light switches. Remember to remain as calm as possible in an emergency so you can think more clearly...and don’t forget to read the fire safety post here!

Stay safe!