There are some very simple steps you can take to help protect you and your family from fire. Below you will see guidance as to how to protect your home from the dangers of fire in the areas of;

Smoke alarms

• Check your smoke alarm every week. Push the button, not your luck!
• Give your smoke alarm a birthday
• Change your battery every year on a date that you can remember easily, like your birthday.
• Change your smoke alarm every 10 years. Like most electrical goods they can stop working at some point, it is better to change them before they stop working
• Have at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home. These need to be in the hallways as they are your escape routes.
• If you wear a hearing aid, can you hear the alarms when you are not wearing the hearing aid, e.g At night.
  Call us for advice on specialist smoke alarms on 0800 032 1155.

Carbon Monoxide

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas.  Ordinarily this would not be a problem but it is also an extremely poisonous gas and because you can't see it, taste it or smell it, it COULD kill without warning in just a few hours.

Anything that burns a fossil fuel, a cooker, a boiler, even a barbeque, has the potential to produce CO if the appliance is faulty and the fuel does not burn properly.

Approximately, there are 40 accidental deaths due to CO poisoning every year in England and Wales and over 200 cases of recorded non-fatal injury. It is believed that a great many more people are exposed and suffer from milder cases of CO poisoning but are unaware of the cause and suffer long term illness.  As a result, the impact on health may well be underestimated.

Being aware of the symptoms could save your life.

The NHS advise that “…a headache is the most common symptom of CO poisoning.
Other common symptoms include:

• dizziness and nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting (being sick)
• tiredness and confusion
• stomach pain
• shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Symptoms of carbon monoxidepoisoning can be similar to those of food poisoning and flu. However, unlike flu, carbon monoxide poisoning does not cause a high temperature (fever).”

For more information including advice on alarms Click Here....

Camping and Carbon Monoxide ... advice here

Carbon Monoxide in the home ... advice here

Electric Blanket Safety

• Always follow manufacturers’ instructions for using your blanket. This will help you use and store it safely and prolong the life of your blanket. Store it flat or rolled and do not store other objects on top of it.
• Electric Blankets should be replaced every 10 years and tested every 2 years. Check with your local Age Concern office to see if anyone is testing in your area.
• Always check your blanket for scorch marks, water damage, mould or exposed wires. If you see any of these on your blanket do not use it, replace it.
• Never use a hot water bottle or drink fluids in bed when you have your electric blanket fitted to it. If you spill you drink or the water bottle leaks you will be mixing water and electricity.

Electrical Safety

• Do not overload electrical sockets.
  Click here for a Socket Overload Calculator
• Always unplug appliances when you have finished with them. Have you ever noticed how hot the plug can get?
• Make sure your electrical goods do not pre date the EU safety standards. If you are unsure, get them checked by a qualified electrician.
• Do not cover cables or leave them coiled. They need to be ventilated and checked for any broken covering.

Candle Safety

• Do not place candles near flammable material such as curtains.
• Make sure they are fully extinguished before leaving the room. Heat travels and can easily set things a light!
• Always use sturdy holders and do not leave lit candles unattended. They can easily be knocked over by children, pets or even the wind!
• Keep torches handy in case of a power cut. They are much safer than candles.

Cooking Safety

• Never leave any cooking unattended even for a short length of time. It is easy for fats/greases etc to catch fire, try to keep them to a minimum.
• Keep combustibles such as tea towels and kitchen paper away from the hob. Switch off the cooker as soon as you have finished using it (at the wall if electric).
• Do not use toasters under cupboards, pull them out away from the wall. Bread in a toaster can catch fire very easily, empty the crumbs out regularly and stay with it whilst in use to ensure it does not jam.
• If you use a chip pan, never fill it more than a 1/3rd full, do not leave it unattended. Have you considered a safer alternative such as a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer or even oven chips!
• Be careful not to place portable heaters where they can be knocked or tripped over. Also ensure that the air vents are kept clear and do not over heat.

Escape Routes

• Plan an easy escape route, all you need to do is get down the stairs and out the door quickly and safely. Always make sure hallways, stairs etc are not blocked with clutter.
• Plan an alternative route in case this one is blocked by fire. Make sure everyone in your house knows the plans (including guests, like grandparents at Christmas). Practise it and turn it in to a game with all the family.
• Have a designated place to keep door keys on your exit route. The keys must always be kept here so that everyone could access them in a fire.
• Think of a safe room to go, in case you can’t get out of the home. Ideally this would look out on to the street, block any gaps in the door with clothing etc and open the window for fresh air. If you do not have a mobile phone shout FIRE! until you are rescued!
• If your clothes catch fire, Stop, Drop and Roll. This will help put the flames out, cover your face with your hands to protect it from the flames.

In the Event of a Fire

• Alert everyone.
• Get straight out.
• Avoid smoke by keeping low.
• Only open doors you need to for your escape.
• Always check the door for heat first with the back of your hand (if hot find another route).
• Once outside call the Fire Service, stating your full address
• DO NOT GO BACK IN
  GET OUT,
  STAY OUT,
  GET THE FIRE SERVICE OUT.

Heating Safety

• Never use petrol or other flammable liquids to light a fire. They can be very unpredictable and may not react as you expect!
• Always use a full protective fire guard when children, infirm people or pets are in the room. Always ensure it is in place when you leave the room.
• Ensure the chimney is swept at least once a year (or flues checked if it is a gas fire) All heating appliances should also be checked regularly by a qualified person.
• Never place flammable materials, like curtains or chairs, near a fire or heater. Heat travels and can easily set things alight!
• Be careful not to place portable heaters where they can be knocked or tripped over. Also ensure that the air vents are kept clear and do not over heat.

Chimney Fire Safety

Most chimney fires are preventable. Regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flues will help eliminate the build-up of soot from coal, wood, oil and gas fired systems. Sweeping also clears obstructions such as bird nests, leaves and debris.

The Fire Service urge people to make an appointment now to have their chimney swept, before lighting their first fire of the winter, and also to ensure that any appliances that haven't been used for a while are given a safety check.

How often should I clean my chimney?
We recommend the following simple maintainance routines:
Solid Fuel Fires - Once a year for smokeless fuel; twice a year for coal
Wood Burning Fires - 4 times a year when in use
Gas Fires - Once a year if designed for sweeping
Oil Fires - Once a year

The Fire Service also advises:

• A fireguard is placed in front of the fire at all times
• Fires are extinguished before going to bed or leaving the property unattended
• Do not burn paper or rubbish on fires in the grate
• Check for smoke from cracks in the in the chimney breast
• Install a working smoke alarm in the roof space
  As most unconverted loft spaces are unlikely to be maintained on a regular basis, alarms will be prone to dust and insects along with seasonal temperature differences, This may affect the operation of the alarm. With these issues in mind some manufacturers may not recommend installing their product in an unconverted loft space and doing so may invalidate the warranty of the product. Please check the guidance notes or contact the manufacturer prior to installation.
• Consider fitting a carbon monoxide detector

Soot and smoke from a small chimney fire can cause extensive damage to personal property while larger fires can damage the roof, wipe out the first floor or even destroy a home completely.

Ensure that your smoke alarms, including any fitted in the roof space, are in full working order so that there's early warning should the chimney catch alight.

You can find our leaflet on Chimney Fire Safety here.

Approved chimney sweeps operating in your area can be found at:

• www.nacs.org.uk
• www.apics.org.uk
  
• www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk

Night Routines

• Always check all candles and cigarettes are completely put out. A smouldering cigarette can very quickly turn in to a large fire.
• Turn off all none required appliances including TV’s, computers etc. Every night there is a power surge on the national grid. Even if the appliances do not catch fire, they could still be damaged.
• If you have one, always take your mobile phone to bed with you. This could be the difference between you being able to call 999 and not.
• Keep torches in easy to access places. At night when it is dark and smoky, being able to pick up the torch straight away will help your escape.