Fire Safety in your home

You are almost three times more likely to be killed in a fire that starts during the night.

Most fires at home start accidentally and the effects can be devastating – use this bedtime routine to help prevent a fire in your home.

• Switch off and unplug all appliances (Only leave on those that are designed to be left on – for example, freezers and fridges)
• Don’t charge any mobile devices overnight (mobile phones, laptops, e- scooters and e -bikes)
• Check that the oven, grill, and hob are switched off.
• Don’t leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher running overnight (They are a fire risk due to their high wattage, friction, and motors)
• Turn off all gas and electric heaters and put a guard in front of an open fire.
• Check that candles are out before leaving a room, never leave one unattended.
• Make sure that any cigarettes, cigars and pipes have been extinguished, and never smoke in bed.
• Close all internal doors, by shutting doors you can protect your escape route from a fire. This is particularly important in homes where you would not be able to escape from a window, for example if you live in a flat.
• Check that your escape route is clear of obstacles

Every household should have some sort of escape plan in place just in case the worst was to happen.

Hopefully, you will never need to use it. However, it’s important to prepare so you know what to do without delay.

Plan together as a family – make sure that all the children in the household know the plan and what to do in the unlikely event of a fire occurring. Special arrangements need to be made for any elderly or disabled people who may live with you and how you will implement their escape.

Ensure that the escape route is practicable and can be carried out. Have regular talk throughs so it’s always fresh. It’s also advisable to have a room where you could all stay if the worse was to happen. We suggest that you take a mobile phone with you if there’s no phone in this room, so you can call for help. Make sure if you have children that they know your address in case they need to make the 999 call. Place bedding or clothing at the bottom of the door on the inside of the room to prevent smoke and heat coming in.

Cooking safety tips

• Don’t leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you must leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• If you’re very tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that might make you drowsy, it’s safer not to risk cooking.
• Loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob, and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
• Try to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, extractor fan and grill clean – a build-up of fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire.
• Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking.
• Check toasters are clean and not placed under kitchen cabinets or close to anything that can catch fire.
• Never put anything metal in the microwave.

Always keep an eye on children and pets in the kitchen: don’t leave them unsupervised; put matches and lighters out of sight; and keep saucepan handles out of reach.

What to do if clothing catches fire?

If your or anyone else’s clothing catches fire, don’t run. Remember you should:

Stop – Drop – and Roll, which means:

1. Stop – don’t run, you’ll make the flames worse.

2. Drop – lie down on the ground at once.

3. Roll – In a heavy material or a fire blanket to smother the flames – or roll long the ground which will also help extinguish the flames.

Vapes may cost less than cigarettes but they’re still a fire risk, and they still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.

Buy e-cigarette devices from reputable retailers. Don’t buy counterfeit goods. Fire risks around vaping often come from counterfeit or faulty products.

• Follow the instructions for use carefully and pay close attention to any warnings supplied with the product.
• Always make sure that e-liquids are out of reach of children and pets.
• Never use vapes or e-cigarettes close to medical oxygen or where emollient creams, or airflow mattresses are being used.

Batteries and Charging

Lots of the risk around vaping and e-cigarettes is related to their batteries and how they’re charged, so:

• Only use the chargers that came with the device.
• Never leave e-cigarettes charging unattended or on overnight.
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge (after the charge cycle is complete).
• Do not cover batteries that are on charge, in case of overheating.
• Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries in extremes of high or low temperatures.
• Protect batteries against being damaged, crushed or punctured and don’t immerse in water.
• Never let your battery come into contact with metal items such as coins or keys in a pocket or bag, as this can cause a short circuit and explosion.

Never install, repair or service appliances yourself. We will contact you to arrange an appointment for one of our Gas Safe Registered Engineers (for gas appliances) to attend your premise and service your boiler – It’s important that you allow them access to do this, as it’s a legal requirement.

• ·Make sure any portable heaters are well maintained and in good working order.  Check that your heaters you’ve purchased aren’t on a recall list – there have been many fires connected to heaters that have been recalled.
• Don’t take risks with old heaters – if it’s electrical and getting older, get it tested by a qualified electrician or buy a new one.
• Where appropriate, secure heaters against a wall to stop them falling over, or fit wall-mounted heaters.
• Keep heaters well away from clothes, curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
• Always sit at least one metre away from a heater as it could set light to your clothes or chair.
• Before attempting to move your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool first.

Why are heaters such a concern?

Electrical heaters can be a great way to keep warm – especially if you only want to warm up one room. However, they should be used with care.

• Figures show that over the past five years, more than 800 fires were caused by electrical heaters.
• Tragically, a third of electrical fires that resulted in a fatality involved heaters.
• More fires seem to occur when it’s colder.

There are many reasons fires start, but fires involving heaters seem to have a particularly high fatality rate. This might be because of the circumstances they start in:

• Fires typically start when bedding, blankets or clothes are placed too close to heaters.
• People with mobility issues are especially at risk of tripping or falling onto a heater – placing them at a safe distance is even more important.

Adra install Carbon Monoxide detectors in all rooms containing gas burning appliances – Carbon Monoxide when present can be fatal. It can make you drowsy and less able to escape.