Did you know tht 36 people on average die in fires in Ireland each year? Added to that, over 1,000 people attend casualty with burns or scald injuries? Shocking stats, we know you'll agree.
This week is National Fire Safety Week – 5 - 12 October – aimed at enhancing fire safety in the home to reduce accidental fires due to the careless use and disposal of smoking materials. To mark it, we've got this safety checklist for you to read.
Print it, read it, read it again and share it with friends – if there is one thing you do this week, it's make your home safe.
To prevent fire...
DON'T:
- Smoke when you are in bed, tired or on medication
- Leave the room when there are candles burning
- Leave young children alone near an open fire or cooker
- Leave matches and lighters where children can get them
- Leave the room when a chip or frying pan is on even for a minute
- Overload electric sockets - one socket, one plug
- Use electrical appliances that don't work
- Run electrical appliances from a light socket
- Use a heater, open fire or the cooker to dry clothes
- Use petrol or paraffin to light a solid fuel stove
Make sure to:
- Empty ashtrays before you go to bed. Run the contents under the tap before you bin them.
- Clean your chimney and service your heating system at least once a year.
- Keep your gas cylinder outside, on solid ground and away from anything hot.
- Use a proper holder for candles.
- Keep a suitable fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen.
- Repair or replace faulty electrical appliances immediately.
- Do a fire safety check before you go to bed.
- Close all doors at night.
To make sure your smoke alarm works when you need it:
- Test the alarm once a week - push and hold the test button until it beeps
- Change the battery once a year
- Every six months, vacuum and brush the casing to get rid of dust
- Replace the smoke alarm after ten years
To help detect fire:
- Fit a smoke alarm in every room (except the bathroom and the garage) to protect your hoe. Fit a heat alarm in the kitchen.
- Check you can hear your smoke alarm from your bedroom at night with the door closed
- Change the battery right away when you hear the warning beep
- Never remove batteries from your alarm unless you are changing them
A fire safety check only takes a few minutes, but it could mean the difference between life and death. Make the following part of your routine before bed:
- Empty all ashtrays
- Unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment
- Turn off gas appliances
- Put out candles and naked flames
- Place a spark guard in front of open fires
- Keep your way out completely clear
- Close all doors
