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Home » News & Events » 2011 » December » Keep your family and guests safe this Christmas!

Keep your family and guests safe this Christmas!

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Station Commander Grant Wills from H&WFRS said: "The importance of having working smoke alarms fitted in the home is regularly promoted and widely understood, but not so many people realise how key it is to have an escape route planned.


"Knowing just what to do and how to get out of the house in the event of a fire can save vital time, particularly if a fire breaks out at night. We would urge people to have escape routes planned and to make sure that each family member and any guests staying over Christmas are made aware of these plans."

He reminded people to make sure that their escape routes are kept free from obstruction, advice that is more important than ever at Christmas when furniture may be moved about to accommodate extra people staying over.

H&WFRS advises:

  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and check they are in working order on a regular basis. An early alert from a smoke alarm could save your life by giving you the precious time needed to escape to safety.
  • Plan your escape route in advance and ensure everyone, including any extra guests, knows where they should go.
  • Make sure your planned escape route remains free from obstruction.
  • Give extra consideration for anyone with mobility issues.
  • Ensure that any keys needed for the escape route are close to hand and that everyone in the house knows exactly where they are.