The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued an advisory on how to ensure safety at home and in public spaces during the holy month of Ramadan.
“Important Tips for a Safe Ramadan 2016”, which has been issued by the Public Relations Department of the MoI, lists a number of dos and don’ts for people and covers key areas such as health, how to avoid fires, traffic safety and what to do in an emergency.
Providing tips on how to avoid food poisoning, the advisory has urged people to check the validity of canned, frozen or preserved foodstuff and also ensure that there are no changes in the smell, colour or texture of food.
“For this reason, please make sure that the foodstuff has been kept in a clean and closed place or in the refrigerator,” it states, adding that people should also ensure that when dining out, they should ensure that the place and food served are clean.
To ensure protection from fires in the kitchen, people are being urged to avoid pouring water onto a pan in case the oil catches fire as it can aggravate the situation. In such cases, one must cover the burning pan with a thick lid or a fire blanket.
If a trash bin catches fire, it should be immediately covered with a damp cloth to prevent it from spreading by depriving it of oxygen.
The MoI has advised people to ensure that a good fire extinguisher is available at home. Matchsticks should be thrown into the dustbin only after ensuring that they are no longer burning and people should not wear flowing or mixed nylon dresses while working in the kitchen in order to ensure protection from fires.
“Don’t leave children in the kitchen or near hot and burning materials or electrical points,” the advisory states.



The period before Iftar is considered the most vulnerable when it comes to traffic accidents during the holy month, the advisory notes.

If people smell gas inside the house, they should open all doors and windows immediately to “reduce the concentration of leaked gas”. They should never use a burning matchstick near a cylinder while trying to locate the point of leakage and also avoid switching on exhaust fans and lights as these may serve as “ignition points” in case there is a gas leak.
The advisory has stressed the need to follow safe traffic practices. One of the issues addressed is overspeeding by motorists as they try to reach home – or some other place – in time for Iftar.
Urging motorists not to rush before Iftar, the advisory notes they should instead start early so that they have enough time to reach their destination safely. The period before Iftar is considered the most vulnerable when it comes to traffic accidents during the holy month, it observed.
Motorists have also been advised to avoid parking their vehicles in such a way that may obstruct traffic movement, especially during prayer timings and Iftar gatherings.
Offering safety tips for pedestrians, the advisory says they should ensure that a road is completely free on both sides before crossing, especially during peak hours. Also, they should cross roads only through designated areas.
“Please avoid last-minute shopping for Eid and finish it early enough to avoid traffic jams and having to park in ‘no-parking areas’ because of the huge rush,” it adds.
Further, the advisory has reminded people that children should not be allowed to play on internal roads in residential areas, especially at night, in order to protect them from traffic accidents. They should play only in designated areas.
The MoI has issued safety tips for the Garangao celebrations as well. Noting that the Qatari society celebrates Garangao on the 15th night of Ramadan, the advisory has asked people to be extra cautious while driving on this night, as children will walk around residential areas to collect sweets and gifts from neighbours, and take adequate safety measures to avoid traffic accidents.
The ministry has also addressed the issue of begging during Ramadan. People have been asked to report cases of begging to the anti-begging section at the MoI’s Criminal Investigation Department on 2347444/33618627. Approved charitable organisations are the official agencies in Qatar to help the needy and poor, it adds.
In the event of an emergency, people should not get scared and instead act wisely, the advisory mentions, noting that they should immediately call 999 for assistance. The emergency number for the deaf is 992.