3 December is the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) is encouraging people to consider home fire safety and escape route planning.
According to the WHO World Report on Disability (Disability (who.int), 15% of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability – with the number increasing due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
Whether you’re a wheelchair user, have limited mobility, a hearing impairment or other disability, it is worth considering how you would escape or protect yourself if a fire happened in your home.
HWFRS Prevention Technicians and Fire crews are delighted to visit local residents and carry out a free Home Fire Safety visit, to help keep them safe in their homes.
This can enable them to work together to devise escape plans for both day and night, should a fire occur.
It offers advice on how to reduce the risk of fire in the home, including the checking and fitting of smoke alarms as required.
Emma Roberts, HWFRS Head of Prevention, said:
“In the last year, fire crews and Prevention Technicians have carried out nearly 4,000 Home Fire Safety Visits.
“Due to the cost of living situation, this winter may be particularly challenging for many people, but such a visit gives us the opportunity to assess the home and work out the safest place for residents to go in the event of a fire at different times of day, depending on which floor they spend most of the day and on which floor their bedroom is.
“Where a resident can’t escape their home unaided, fire crews can be made aware of agreed escape plans so we would know where to look for individuals.”
“If an individual is hard of hearing, we can advise on fitting a specialist hearing alarm.
“Anybody who finds walking a struggle, or who needs a wheelchair to get around their own home, can really benefit from the thorough advice the fire service gives.”
Emma added:
“You can also complete a FREE online Home Fire Safety check by following the link on our website. This easy-to-follow check will take you through your home a room at a time – the simple questions will help you spot fire risks and make your home safer.
“Since we launched our online Home Fire Safety Check in April this year, nearly 400 people have completed the form and have benefited from our teams carrying out a Home Fire Safety.
“If you think you might qualify for a free Home Fire please call our Prevention team on 0800 032 1155.
“For further fire safety advice please visit hwfire.org.uk/safety-and-advice/ and www.hwfire.org.uk.”
Home Fire Safety visits can advise on:
- Fire safety in the home
- Falls prevention
- Winter Warmth
- Social Isolation and loneliness
- Crime prevention
- Smoking
How to arrange a visit
For more information on home fire safety, and to watch our Safe and Well film, visit hwfire.org.uk/safeandwell .
Also check out the IDPWD website at https://idpwd.org/ to see what services they provide and today specifically at International Day of People with Disabilities 2022 (idpwd.org).