Thu, 2 Sep 2004

New Zealand Fire Service: Always call 111

An incident in Titahi Bay where a passerby saved an elderly woman from a fire was yet another reminder about the importance of ringing 111 in an emergency, Fire Service Acting National Commander Steve Turek said.

Mr Turek said that while the man's actions were commendable the first course of action should always be to call the Fire Service by ringing 111.

Valuable seconds are wasted while people get hoses or run into situations of grave danger before ringing 111.

We have too many tragedies where people attempt to save someone trapped in a fire themselves and end up dying in the process.

We are very lucky in this case that the man escaped with smoke inhalation and the elderly woman was saved. Fire is fast and should not be tackled by people who are untrained, Mr Turek said.

This week the Fire Service reminded the public about the importance of using the 111 system after it found at least 1500 people a year were ringing fire stations, rather than using the emergency number.

ENDS

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