Alarming need to stay safe (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Alarming need to stay safe

8:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking everyone to think about the safety of family, friends and neighbours.

It has been statistically proven that fire deaths are significantly less likely to happen in homes fitted with working smoke detectors. The challenge from local firefighters is for people to ensure they have smoke detectors in their homes, and to check those close to them are also protected.

Watch manager Neil Cham-berlain, from the community safety department, said: “Working smoke detectors are vital. As a fire and rescue service, we provide alarms where needed, but they must be tested on a regular basis – ideally weekly.

“So we want people who visit elderly relatives or friends to make this basic test part of their routine – pushing that button could save a life.”

The service offers free home fire safety checks for households that meet certain criteria – and everyone qualifies for an information pack, which will help you make your home as safe as possible.

These checks are also extended to people with houseboats on the Kennet and Avon Canal, and it has a boat safety advisor to help this section of the community. If you live in a thatched property, your home has the potential to be at greater risk of fire, so please contact them for a thatch information pack if you haven’t already received one.

How to cut down the risk of fire Here are ten top tips for being safer at home: - Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking – take pans off the heat or turn them down to reduce risk.

- Always double check the cooker is switched off when you’ve finished cooking.

- Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order – many cooker fires start when a build-up of fat and grease ignites.

- Extension leads and adaptors have a limit to how many amps they can take, so be careful not to overload them. Where you can, keep one plug to each socket.

-Unplug appliances when you’re not using them or when you go to bed.

- Keep portable heaters away from curtains and furniture, and never use them for drying clothes.

-If you smoke, always stub out cigarettes properly and dispose of them carefully. Place ashtrays on solid surfaces, where they can’t be tipped over.

-If you use candles, make sure they are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – such as curtains.

- Make sure you know how to get out of your home in the event of a fire. Are the exits clear? Do you know where door and window keys are kept? Most importantly, does everyone in the house know?

-If you do have a fire – get out, stay out and call 999.

To find out if you qualify for a free home fire safety check from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, visit www.wiltsfire. gov.uk or call 0800 389 7849.