Accidental fires in residential homes account for 60% of all fire fatalities in the UK and, while there was a 2% decrease See this last year in the number of attended fires, the 304 fire fatalities still makes for a startling statistic.
Fit a fire alarm and test it regularly
One of the first steps of fire safety is to ensure that you conduct appropriate fire alarm installation. It is advised that one should be fitted on each level of your property for comprehensive fire protection, and they are best placed in or near the middle of the ceiling, at least 30cm away from walls or lights. There are two main types of fire alarm – Ionisation and Optical – and a fire safety specialist can advise you on the most suitable alarm for your environment. Another crucial aspect of fire alarm safety is to regularly test your alarm. A broken alarm is as good as no alarm, so make sure the batteries are tested each week and changed at least once a year.
Take care when cooking
More than 50% of accidental fires in the home are cooking related, making the kitchen somewhere you should take exceptional care. Pay close attention to the task of cooking, making sure you don’t get distracted and, if you are called away, make sure you take the pans off the heat or turn the heat down. Be particularly careful when using oils as these are a major fire risk, and also strive to never leave children alone in the kitchen when food is being prepared.
Plan an escape route
The best escape route is usually the normal way in and out of your home. However, if the location of the fire restricts you from using that route, it is incredibly important to have other options. We advise planning various routes, assessing the exit ways out of each room and taking into consideration the needs and abilities of everyone needing to escape, such as babies, older people, disabled people and pets.
Check for hazards before you go to bed
When you are asleep it takes a lot longer to become aware of a fire. It is therefore incredibly important to make sure that your house is as safe as possible from the threat of fire before you go to bed. Installing a bedroom routine that incorporates this is very beneficial, and is quick and easy to conduct. Simply go round your home checking the cooker is off, turning off and unplugging appliances, ensuring candles and cigarettes are put out and disposed of properly and turning heaters off. It is also a good idea to make sure that exit ways are clear of obstruction and to shut interior doors to slow the spread of a fire.
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