Every year house fires claim approximately 200 lives in the UK. This is why it is vital to understand the dangers and take the correct precautions to avoid a fire occurring in your home.
When in the kitchen…
- Keep pan handles and matches out of reach of children. Never leave them alone in the kitchen if you are using a hob
- Take care wearing loose clothing near a heat source as they can very easily catch fire
- Ensure that electrical appliances such as toasters are kept away from kitchen roll, curtains or tissues
- Be vigorous with cleaning the hob, grill and oven. Fat and grease can easily ignite, causing a fire
- When deep fat frying, if the oil starts to smoke it is too hot. Turn the heat source off immediately and leave to cool. Or to avoid this use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer as they cannot overheat
When using electricity…
- Make sure that any electrical appliances that you have bought have a British or European safety mark on it
- Some appliances, such as a washing machine require a single plug to themselves due to it being a high-powered appliance
- As different appliances use different amounts of power be careful not to overload a plug socket or power adaptor. Always check the appliance and follow safety guidelines
- Look out for damaged or tarnished wires, sockets or fuses. Any of these can spark a fire – so replace or have them professionally fixed
What to do with your alarm…
- Avoid installing an alarm in a place where they will get set off frequently by accident, such as near a bathroom due to the steam
- Test your alarm monthly
- Use long-life batteries. As people often forget to test batteries
- Do not disconnect a fire alarm, even if it goes off by mistake
- Replace your alarm every 10 years
Plan a safe escape route…
- This should be the normal route that you take when entering/leaving your home
- Make sure that exits are kept clear
- Keep keys to windows and doors in a place where everyone can find them
- If the layout in your house changes, make sure that your escape route has been factored into this
- Most importantly make sure everyone knows and is familiar with the route
It goes without saying, but never tackle a fire yourself. Do not take the risk, get out of the house and call 999.
