Today (3 December 2021) is 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 (who.noncommunicable- world-report-on-disability), 15% of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability.
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.
Nearly 4,240 home visits by HWFRS since start of pandemic
Since the start of the pandemic (1 March 2020 – 21 October 2021) technicians have carried out nearly 4,240 home visits, fitting nearly 4,400 standard smoke alarms and over 540 specialist alarms for those who are hard of hearing.
Emma Roberts, HWFRS Head of Prevention, said:
“Such a visit gives us the opportunity to assess the premises 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 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 vibrating 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.
“Don’t forget a Home Fire Safety visit is a FREE check tailored to an individual’s needs, and we can identify any health and care needs that require signposting to local services to help ensure safety and wellbeing.
“A check helps us to assist people to stay safe, independent and able to stay in their own home.”
She added:
“Finally, if you want to see if you would qualify for a free Home Fire Safety visit or would like any fire safety advice, please call the team on 0800 032 1155.”
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 www.hwfire.org.uk/safeandwell. If you want to see if you qualify for a free Home Fire Safety visit or would like any fire safety advice, please call 0800 032 1155.
Also check out the IDPWD website at https://idpwd.org/ to see what services they provide.