Reducing the risk of fire
Smoke detectors are fairly cheap and easy to fit and can save lives by giving you early warning of a fire. You need to check the battery regularly. Other simple safety measures include:
- always use a fire guard
- make sure cigarettes and candles are put out properly and never leave them unattended
- keep matches out of the reach and sight of children
- never leave a chip pan unattended
- always turn down gas fires and close all doors when leaving the room
- do not remove internal doors and do not tamper with the self-closing mechanism of any door or wedge the door open. The closers have been fitted so that any fire is contained in a small area, giving you time to escape.
If a fire does break out, don’t try to put it out yourself unless you can do so quickly and safely. You should leave the room straight away, closing the door behind you. This will slow down the spread of fire and reduce the spread of smoke, which is the main danger in most fires.
Get everybody outside, again, closing all doors behind you as you go, then call 999, giving the phone number you are calling from, and ask for the fire brigade. Give your name and address and say where the fire is. Wait until the fire brigade has repeated the address before you hang up.
Never use water on a fire involving electrical appliances, fat, oil or spirits. Instead, switch off the gas or electricity supply if a heater or oven is involved, or smother the fire with a mat, woollen blanket or overcoat.
