If you live in a bungalow, apartment or flat you should have at least 1 working smoke alarm fitted. This should be positioned in your hallway.
If you live in a house you should have at least 2 working smoke alarms fitted. These should be positioned in your hallway and landing.
If you do have more than one smoke alarm fitted in your home then they should each be interlinked so that if one smoke alarm is activated, all the smoke alarms will sound.
You should test your smoke alarms every month to make sure they are working by pressing the test button.
If you have any worries about the smoke alarms in your home then please get in touch with us and we’ll send someone out to check them and replace them for you if needed.
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.
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:
About two fires a day are started by heaters.
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.
Did you know that around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents? Here's some tips for cooking safely at home: