fire safety

Fitting smoke alarms is the first crucial step to protecting yourself from fire. But what would you do if one went off during the night?

Give some thought to how you might escape your home if a fire broke out, and make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. The best route is the normal way in and out of your home. Take a few minutes to practise your escape plan.

Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them and make sure exits are kept clear. Think of a second route in case the first one is blocked. Review your plan if the layout of your home changes.

If you live in a building with a communal area, check for the fire action notice as this will tell you what to do if there is a fire.

Fire blankets are best kept in the kitchen and are used to put out a small fire, or to wrap a person whose clothes are on fire.

Fire extinguishers shoot out a jet to help control a small fire. They are quick and simple to use, but always read the instructions first.

Heat alarms can detect fires in kitchens where smoke alarms should not be placed.

You should make sure that all corridors and stairways are clear of things that could catch fire – like boxes or rubbish, and that the doors leading to these areas are kept unlocked.

It is easy to get confused in smoke so you should plan and practice an escape route. You should avoid using lifts and balconies in a fire, so plan a route that avoids these. Pay particular attention to how many doors you need to go through to reach the stairs.

Make sure everyone in the building knows where the fire alarms are. You should still get a smoke alarm for your own home, even if the building has a warning system in place.

• Keep electric heaters away from curtains and furniture, and never use them for drying clothes. Always unplug them when not in use. 
• Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off. Unplug electric blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Be careful using candles or matches - put them out completely before leaving the room or going to bed. 
• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire, like curtains.

Did you know that in the UK someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette every week! To keep yourself and others in your home safe, you should:

• Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Use a proper ashtray – never a wastepaper basket.
• Make sure your ashtray can’t tip over and is made of a material that won’t burn.
• Never leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can easily fall over and start a fire.
• Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you’ve been drinking as you may fall asleep and cause a fire.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
• Consider buying child resistant lighters and match boxes.

• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains.
• Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re put out completely at night.
• Children shouldn’t be left alone with lit candles.
• Keep pets away from lit candles.

About two fires a day are started by heaters.

• Try to secure heaters up against a wall to stop them falling over.
• Keep them clear from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
• Turn them off before bed or when you leave your home.

• Stop, Drop and Roll!
• Lie down and roll around. It makes it harder for the fire to spread. Smother the flames with a heavy material, like a coat or blanket.
• Don’t run around, you’ll make the flames worse.

If you can’t get out, get everyone into one room, ideally with a window and a phone. Put bedding around the bottom of the door to block out the smoke.

Call 999 then open the window and shout “HELP FIRE”. If you’re on the ground or first floor, you may be able to escape through a window. Use bedding to cushion your fall and lower yourself down carefully. Don’t jump.

If you can’t open the window, break the glass in the bottom corner and use a towel or blanket to make jagged edges safer.

• Keep electric appliances and their leads away from water.
• Keep your toaster clean and away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
• Keep your oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order as a build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.
• Don’t put anything metal in the microwave.

• Take care when cooking with hot oil as it can set alight easily.
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn’t splash.
• Oil starts to smoke when it’s too hot. If this happens, turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Thermostat-controlled electric deep fat fryers can’t overheat, so these are safest to use.

• Don’t throw water over it.
• Don’t take any risks.
• Do turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so.
• Don’t tackle the fire yourself unless the fire is small and you have appropriate fire safety equipment and you’re confident using it.