There are only a couple of weeks left until the end of 2022. Residents of Tashkent, in anticipation of the New Year holidays, rushed to the markets and bazaars of the capital to buy food for the festive table, New Year Tree decorations and gifts for their relatives.

In December, not only the New Year's fuss, but also the cold came to the capital, which stimulated the sale of electric heaters of different capacities and designs. In addition to the obvious increase in the load on the city's power grid, this has created other problems. So, not all citizens purchase and use certified or serviceable electric heaters, forgetting that any device has its own service life. If the heater has faithfully served the family for more than twenty years, but has recently started to fail, perhaps it should still be replaced.

To reduce the number of fires caused by faulty heating devices, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan are conducting inspections in state institutions for the presence of necessary fire safety equipment, as well as the operability of heating devices in them.

It is worth remembering that even a certified heating device can pose a danger if it is in an emergency condition or is not used for its intended purpose.

“Since the cold snap, all relevant services coordinated by the Ministry of Emergency Situations have intensified work on the prevention of fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and gas-air mixture outbreaks”, says the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan Murat Sadikov. “Daily, working groups visit residential areas, social and construction sites. Specialists check heating systems, electrical appliances and everything related to safety in the winter season in detail. The identified shortcomings are eliminated on the spot by repair teams, of which there are more than 420 throughout the country. The work is coordinated by the Republican Interdepartmental Working Group, which these days is based in the Central Office of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. It includes representatives of the Ministries of Emergency Situations, Internal Affairs, Energy, Health, mahalla, Hududgaztaminot JSC, the State Committee for Industrial Safety of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Here, specialists collect, analyze and summarize information about the work carried out in winter. Based on the obtained data, appropriate adjustments are made to the activities of the relevant structures to increase the effectiveness of their activities.

To protect yourself from trouble, it is enough to observe the basic rules of operation of heating appliances. In particular, it should be remembered that you can not use homemade electric heaters. When disconnecting the device from the mains, do not pull it by the cable. Insulation damage in this way can lead to a fire. All electric stoves and electric kettles should be on stands made of non-flammable materials. To prevent network overload, try not to plug several electrical appliances into the electrical outlet at the same time, especially high-power ones. If there is a stove in the house, then it needs to be checked annually. Do not use flammable liquids when igniting the furnace. In addition, it should be remembered that New Year decorations can also cause a fire.

“It is difficult to imagine the New Year without a Christmas tree”, says Nasiba Zurapova, an employee of the Press Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan. “However, the New Year tree must be properly installed and decorated, observing all fire and technical safety standards. First of all, the New Year tree needs to be installed on a stable foundation. It is strictly forbidden to place it near heating devices. The distance from the walls and ceiling should be at least one meter. You only need to decorate the New Year tree with serviceable factory-made garlands. Do not use flammable toys, cotton wool, candles and paper to decorate the New Year tree.

The New Year is perhaps the kindest family holiday. It gathers all family members at one table and fills the hearts with the brightest feelings. On the eve of it, measures should be taken to protect yourself and your family members.

Roman Bondarchuk, UzA