Do you have Clients where English is their second language?

In a multicultural country like New Zealand, there’s a good chance that you regularly communicate with clients from diverse countries and cultures.

Being able to communicate in more than one language is an amazing feat.

But it’s no secret, intercultural communication isn’t always easy, for either party. There can be linguistic and cultural barriers. Connecting with clients in their primary language breaks up the cultural differences, builds trust and shows understanding.

SATS appreciates that tenants and Landlords come from all corners of the globe.

Multilingual materials are key to reaching out to people where English is their second language. SATS is able to communicate via the latest technology, and in multiple languages.

Call or email SATS now to find out more

It’s Official!

Smoke Alarm Testing Services is excited to announce, that we have acquired the business of Smoke Alarm Professionals. The Smoke Alarm Professionals team will be joining the SATS New Zealand team in our vision to educate people on the importance of working Smoke Alarms and providing them with the best service within the industry.

Seven years ago, when three of us were sitting in a bare office working on launching SATS New Zealand, we never imagined we would get this far.

As we pause to celebrate our growth and reflect on our achievements, it both feels like we’ve come a long way and also, somehow, like we’re just getting started.

This is a huge milestone for SATS New Zealand. We look forward to what the future will hold.

SATS would like to thank all of our clients and employees for making this possible. We could have never achieved so much in so little time without you and we look forward to achieving even greater things in the future!

Deadlock Deathtraps

Whilst many people are concerned for their home Safety and aim to keep intruders out, the sinister side of this is people lock themselves in without a thought of what to do if they need to exit their home in an emergency.

SATS technicians attend many properties where the occupants take several minutes to allow them access due to having to find the keys to unlock the door internally.

Let’s put this into perspective… Its 2am and the Smoke Alarm has woken you. A fire has broken out within the home and you need to escape. The front door is deadlocked, and your keys are at the other end of the house. Between you and those keys is a fire. You cannot exit through the front door as you cannot unlock it…..

It’s a scary thought as to what could happen next.

When a house is filled with smoke, people often won’t behave in a rational manner. Smoke can overcome and kill people in four minutes, and you are three times more likely to be killed by a night-time fire than a daytime one. The most likely reaction of anyone woken from sleep by a Smoke Alarm is to panic and make straight for the nearest exit. People in such circumstances should not be expected to pause to find the front door key that has been hidden in a drawer, or hung up somewhere away from the door, get it into the lock and turn it.

Simply, People do die in fires because they have deadlocked themselves in and removed the key from the lock.

Safety Switch vs Circuit Breaker. Do you know the difference?

 Safety Switch vs Circuit Breaker

Both Safety Switches and Circuit Breakers promote safety and prevent damage to you and your property, but they are not the same thing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about these two electrical safety devices that have been causing a lot of confusion in the mind of people.

It’s important to know the differences between Safety Switches and Circuit Breakers because these are the vital electrical components that keep your family safe.

Let’s look a little closer at these two devices:

Safety Switch

Visually, a Safety Switch has a “test” button.

Safety Switches monitor the flow of electricity through a circuit and turn off the power in a fraction of a second if a leakage of current is detected. Safety Switches are specifically designed to protect human beings from death or serious injury from electrical shocks. Safety Switches are an additional form of protection to be used with Circuit Breakers.

Circuit Breaker

Visually similar, there is no “test” button on a Circuit Breaker

Circuit Breakers both serve to protect an overloaded electrical circuit by interrupting the continuity, or the flow of electricity. Most houses are equipped with Circuit Breakers in the main switchboard to protect the wiring from overloads. Circuit Breakers provide short-circuit and over-current protection such as when a power point is overloaded, but it does not protect an individual from electrocution.

 

 

Top 6 ways to reduce the risk of a house fire

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  1. Working smoke alarms
    Ensure your home has smoke alarms that are correctly positioned, operational, regularly tested and compliant. Early warning systems can save lives and your home should a fire break out.
  2. Keep your stove and oven areas clear
    Never leave anything flammable near hot surfaces in the kitchen, especially your stove and oven spaces. Keep tea towels, cleaning cloths, placemats, curtains and cookbooks all well away from this zone. Try to avoid resting anything on hotplates even when they are turned off.
  3. Check electrical cords
    Frayed and broken charging and electrical cords can easily become a hazard as they heat up. Ensure you replace or remove immediately. Try to avoid charging phones and devices on material surfaces – again the charging packs and cords can heat up and pose a fire risk.
  4. Keep fire extinguishers and blankets handy
    Ensure you keep an in-date fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in handy places such as the kitchen. Make sure everyone in your home knows where they are located and remove any obstructions that make them hard to reach in an emergency.
  5. Store flammable products safely
    Store your household cleaners and beauty products away from heat to avoid combustion. Cool, dark cupboards with constant temperatures are ideal. This also applies to products stored in your garage and shed. Metal spaces heat up far quicker and can pose a real risk if not managed with care.
  6. Be cautious with flames
    When using candles, diffusers, fireplaces, BBQs and fire-pits make sure you keep an eye on them at all times. It is also a good idea to keep any flammable items well away from these areas and extinguish before going to bed or leaving the room/area.

Hop to it!

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Celebrate Easter in style with some homemade goodies that are all about chocolate and Easter.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

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  • It is important that in the event of a fire (or emergency) you have a safety checklist and escape plan. Take the time to put both in place with your family, friends or boarders – it could potentially save a life.

    A home fire safety checklist consists of a to-do list to prevent your home from catching on fire. These measures should be applied on a daily basis to help reduce the risk overall. The to-do list may include items such as times to regularly clean, dust, check and maintain smoke alarms throughout the home. It may also note general safety actions such as keeping flammable items away from heat sources, being present when there are lit flames (candles, fires, BBQs etc.), safe storage of combustible goods and good practices in the kitchen when cooking and cleaning.

    Read our blog to see tips on creating an Escape plan for your home.

Smoke alarm alerts mother to cooking fire

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Source

A kind postie comforted a young mother and her children while firefighters put out a kitchen fire in their Hāwera home on Wednesday.

Ellen Te Waaka said she was attending to her three-month-old baby when the smoke alarm in her lounge went off just after midday.

A pot of oil on the stove that she was heating to cook chips for her three-year-old daughter Emmalee’s lunch had ignited.

“It was all black from the smoke and there was orange flames. I just picked up my baby and my little girl and ran out,” she said.

Once outside, Te Waaka realised she had no way of calling the fire brigade.

“I laid my baby down on the grass and ran back in to get my phone.”

The distressed family waited outside the house for the fire brigade.

“I was screaming for help but no one came,” she said. “Then the postie came along and saw me crying on the footpath, she asked if I was ok. I said, no, my house is on fire, and she grabbed Emma for me.”

The postie stayed with Te Waaka, cuddling little Emmalee, until well after the two fire trucks and crews from the Hāwera Volunteer Fire Brigade had arrived.

“She said she had came back because she had forgotten to post some mail. I don’t know her name, she’s the awesome postie lady,” Te Waaka said said.

The fire was quickly put out by firefighters with a dry powder extinguisher.

“They are very, very lucky people,” chief fire officer Mike Fairweather said.

“The smoke alarm activated early, that helped them get out of the house, it saved the house from becoming fully involved.”

Once firefighters had ventilated the house to remove the smoke, and checked for hot spots, the family was allowed back in.

Property manager Stanella Nui of First National Real Estate said the rented house had an extra smoke alarm installed in the lounge, as well as the ones required by law near the bedrooms, and this had activated, alerting the tenant to the fire very soon after it ignited.

Escape Plan

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In just two minutes, a fire can become lift-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames. Scary isn’t it! This doesn’t give you much time to think about how to get yourself or family member to safety. Taking the time to an escape plan in place with your family, friends or boarders could potentially save a life.

An Escape Plan will ensure you know the best escape locations around your home with an active course of action should you become trapped by fire. When designing an escape plan, everyone in the home should be included. Make sure everyone knows the plan of escape as well as where to meet should you become separated during a fire emergency.

You should consider escape locations, meeting places and the best times to call for help. This plan can also be used for other emergency situations. If you have children, helping them know what to do can assist in managing panic and fear should the worst ever happen.

How do you make a fire plan? Here are a few elements to consider when making a plan:

  • Draw a floor plan so you can review ways to escape from each room
  • Keep door and window keys easily accessible
  • Try to keep all exits clear
  • Decide on a meeting point that is a safe distance from the house (letterbox, clothesline, at a neighbours home, a nearby street sign)
  • Remind everyone that when you get out – you stay out. Never return into a burning building
  • Practice! It is essential that everyone in the household knows what to do in the event of a Fire.
And remember to get down low, as smoke can cause damage to the lungs and death. If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL.

Fire safety and Children

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If your curious about what your child/children would do if faced with a house fire, put them to the test! Do you think you’ll like the outcome?

It’s important for children to learn about the dangers of fire, in all circumstances. There are many different ways to bring this to a child’s attention. Information is power, if we can teach children what to do in these situations, they will be able to protect themselves if you are separated.

Here are some essential points:

  1. First things first, Teach them your escape plan. Children can be overwhelmed with fear, a step by step plan of what to do is key for a child’s survival when faced with uncommon happenings.
  2. Practice makes perfect, it’s not enough to talk about it once. Children’s brains are contently growing with new information. Ideally hanging up your escape plan and practising the plan at least twice a year.
  3. When there’s no way out. In the instance of getting trapped by fire, the most important thing to remember is to close the door. Put bedding or cloth under the door to block off any smoke that will seep through.
  4. Wait for help, Firefighters have breathing mask that can look intimidating to children. Make sure that they know what the firefighter gear looks like, so they don’t get scared and hide.
  5. Stop, drop and roll. A key point to save your life, when caught on fire. Most kids first instincts will be to run away which will only make it worse.
  6. Once out stay out – Call 111 – stay safe. Your life can’t be replaced.