Keep an extinguisher to save your life, Dubai motorists told

Dubai Civil Defence and Tasjeel have teamed up to encourage motorists to keep fire extinguishers in their vehicles.

DUBAI // Keeping a fire extinguisher in your car could save your life.

That is the message being spread at malls throughout the emirate by the Dubai Civil Defence and Tasjeel, the vehicle testing and licensing service of Dubai Police.

The Dubai Civil Defence will be in the malls to show members of the public how to use extinguishers properly, and allow motorists to test them on real fires.

"People always have a fire extinguisher around but only need to use it once," said Taleb Al Saleh, manager of Tasjeel.

"The recent statistics on car accidents stressed the need to have fire extinguishers in cars because of their importance in lessening incidents and controlling them before damage becomes exacerbated," said Maj Gen Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, the Civil Defence director general. "Running this type of campaign is vitally important to creating general awareness."

The campaign starts today at Global Village, and will continue at JBR on December 13, Dubai Mall on January 10, Mall of the Emirates on January 31, and Mirdif City Centre on February 7.

Brochures will be distributed at the Tasjeel centres when motorists re-register their vehicles. Video clips on the importance of fire extinguishers will be shown at the centres, and at petrol stations and Civil Defence centres.