The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued guidelines for a safe Ramadan, stressing the importance of ensuring general safety during the holy month -- whether it is at home, the workplace, in markets or on the road. Ensuring the availability of a functioning fire extinguisher in houses and workplaces and knowing how to use it, having proper electrical and gas connections, switching off the stove immediately after cooking and monitoring children in the kitchen are some of the safety measures that should be taken to ensure general safety, the advisory states.

Also, motorists have been urged to follow all traffic rules and regulations, and should refrain from practices such as overspeeding before Iftar time and parking their vehicles wrongly in front of mosques during the night prayer, among others.

Traffic safety

The MoI has advised residents against rushing for Iftar as the period before the breaking of the fast is considered the most vulnerable for traffic accidents during the holy month. People should start early for Iftar, it has said. People should be cautious about allowing children to play on internal roads in residential areas, especially at night, in order to protect them from road accidents. Kids should be allowed to play only in areas designated for such purposes.

Motorists should avoid parking vehicles in such a way that may obstruct traffic movement on the road, especially during Taraweeh or midnight prayers, or Iftar gatherings, the advisory states. People have also been instructed to ensure that roads are completely free from vehicles on both sides, especially during peak hours, before crossing them. "Please cross the road only through designated areas for crossing," it continues.

Further, the advisory says people should avoid last-day shopping for Ramadan and Eid and finish it early enough to avoid traffic jams and having to park in no-parking zones because of heavy rush.

Regarding the Garangao night, the advisory says the Qatari society celebrates Garangao on the 15th night of Ramadan. On this occasion, children will walk around residential areas to collect sweets and gifts offered by neighbours. Accordingly, the advisory has urged motorists to be extra cautious while driving at night and take enough safety measures for ensuring the safety of children.

Protection from food poisoning

Residents have been told to check the validity of canned, frozen or preserved foodstuff and to ensure that there are no changes in their smell, colour or texture. In addition, they should ensure that the foodstuff has been kept in a clean and closed place or in the refrigerator, and that the place and food are clean whenever they dine out.

Protection from fire in the kitchen

The advisory says people should ensure that a good fire extinguisher is available in the house, as well as its "validity and functionality".

"Please don’t leave children alone in the kitchen, nearby hot and burning materials or electrical power sources," the MoI states. Also, in the kitchen, people should not wear flowing dresses or nylon mixed wears in order to avoid catching fire.

If one smells gas odour, s/he should immediately ventilate the place by opening all doors and windows to eliminate or reduce concentration of the leaked gas. "Avoid ventilation of the place by switching on the exhaust fan, because the leaked gas has the specialty of instant ignition. An electric spark that occurs while switching on a fan or a light "may serve as a point of ignition for the highly inflammable gas", the advisory continues. "Please use soap foam for locating the gas leakage and never use a burning matchstick near a gas cylinder to locate the place of leakage."

When a fire breaks out in an oil pan, one should cover the burning pan with a fire blanket in order to isolate the source of the oxygen and avoid pouring water into an oil pan as it will ignite the fire. When a fire breaks out in the trash bin, one needs to cover the burning trash bin immediately with damp cloth in order to prevent oxygen from igniting the fire, the advisory adds.

Emergency

In case there is an emergency, people should not get scared but act wisely and immediately call the emergency No: 999, while the emergency number for the deaf is 992.

"Please be keen to always keep with you your address details, such as the building, street and zone numbers, as this will help the emergency response agencies in Qatar to reach you quickly," the advisory continues.

Begging

Begging is considered a reprehensible behaviour, the MoI states. "If you watch somebody begging, please report it to the Anti-Begging Section at the Criminal Investigation Department on 2347444/ 33618627. Approved charitable organisations are the official agencies in the country to help the needy and poor people.

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