www.clevelandfire.gov.uk Fire Safety in the home Scan me with your smart phone /ClevelandFB @ClevelandFB
smoke alarms Protect you and your family from fire with a working smoke alarm. Call us on 01429 874063 to arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit and we will fit them or replace them for free if needed. Once fitted you must: Test your smoke alarms every week #testittuesday Maintain and clean them every six months Never disconnect or take the batteries out Plan an escape route in case of a fire, so you know what to do if you are alerted by your smoke alarm to a fire in your home. Make sure everyone knows the escape route Make sure all exits are clear The best route is the normal way in and out of your home Think of a second route in case the first is blocked Practice your escape plan Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them You are twice as likely to die in a fire if you don t have a working smoke alarm. www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/homesafety
bedtime routine You are more at risk from fire when asleep. A bedtime routine will help keep you and your family safe. Our top safety tips are: Switch off and unplug electrical equipment, including hair straighteners and laptops only leave on appliances designed to be left on, like your fridge Check your cooker make sure the grill, hob and oven are all turned off Turn heaters off and put a guard in front of an open fire Check candles are out they can go on smouldering and start a fire. Never leave one burning when you go to sleep Put cigarettes right out make sure cigarettes and pipes are out, wetting them to be sure. Never smoke in bed Check your escape route it should be clear of obstacles. Make sure your keys are where they are meant to be Close all doors this can slow down the spread of a fire Turn off your electric blanket unless you are absolutely sure it can be left on safely, eg if it has a thermostat Don t leave your washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher on if you go out or go to bed. Their high speed of operation, friction and motors mean they are a fire risk /Clevelandfb @Clevelandfb
kitchen safety Over half of accidental house fires start in the kitchen this makes your kitchen the most dangerous room in your home. Follow our top tips to reduce the risks! Our top safety tips are: Stand by your pan NEVER leave cooking unattended, it is the cause of 48% of kitchen fires Keep your cooker clean burnt food and fat can and does cause fires Chuck out your chip pan it could save your life, Chip Pans cause 17% of kitchen fires Maintain electrical kitchen appliances Faulty or misused appliances cause 22% of kitchen fires. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for cleaning and maintenance advice Don t drink and fry order a takeaway or eat cold food if drinking Don t wear loose clothing keep tea towels and clothes away from your cooker and hob, they can easily catch fire Don t smoke it harms your health and could start a fire Don t let your pan handles stick out they could get knocked and your pan could fall off the hob What to do if a pan catches fire DON T take any risks. TURN OFF the heat if it s safe to do so. NEVER throw water over it. DON T tackle the fire yourself. GET OUT, STAY OUT & CALL 999 www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/homesafety
electrical safety Fires in the home can be caused by faulty wiring in plugs or appliances, or equipment not being used safely. A few simple checks can keep you safe. Our top safety tips are: Unplug appliances when not in use, unless they are designed to be left on, like your fridge or freezer Regularly check for worn or frayed wires always ensure cables are secured properly to the plug before plugging in anything Ensure tumble dryers and washing machines are cleaned and maintained excess fluff can build up over time and catch fire Keep all appliances clean and in good working order look out for fuses that blow, circuit-breakers that trip for no obvious reason and flickering lights Keep heaters clear from curtains and furniture never use them to dry clothes Unplug your electric blanket before you go to bed, unless it has a thermostat for safe all-night use Check all of your appliances have a British or European Safety Mark. Get a qualified person to check if you are unsure Use an RCD (Residual Current Device). It works like a circuit breaker to protect against electric shocks and electrical fire risk Half of all accidental house fires in 2012/13 were caused by faulty or misused electrical equipment. Don t overload plug sockets extension leads and adaptors have a limit to how many amps they can take. Try to keep one plug per socket Don t leave electric blankets folded as this damages the internal wiring. Store them flat or rolled up instead Don t buy second hand electric blankets and check regularly for wear and tear /Clevelandfb @Clevelandfb
smoking Smoking kills. Smoking is linked to lung cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and blindness to name a few. If you are in a household with a smoker you are 1.5 times more likely to suffer a fire than in a non-smoking household. We urge all smokers to quit, but if you are not ready to, follow our safety tips below: Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully. Put them out. Right out! Use a proper ashtray that can t tip over and is made of material which won t burn Empty ashtrays frequently wet the contents before emptying them into a metal bin outside the home Take extra care when you re tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication which can make you drowsy. It s very easy to fall asleep without realising your cigarette is still burning Keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Use only one lighter/box of matches at a time so you will notice straight away if it goes missing. Where possible buy child-resistant lighters and matchboxes Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended they can easily overbalance, land on a carpet or newspaper and start a fire Never smoke in bed if you need to lie down, don t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire Never tip ash into a wastebasket or a bin you don t know the contents of Cigarettes cause 1 in 3 fire deaths. If you would like to stop smoking, call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 0224332 or visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/homesafety
candle safety Many of us enjoy using candles, particularly during celebrations and festivals. Remember to use candles safely to keep your home and family safe. Always place your candles and tealights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder Make sure the candleholder holds candles and tealights firmly and is on a flat and stable surface to stop it falling over Always put the candleholder on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate (tealights can melt plastic surfaces such as the top of a television or the side of a bath) Always leave at least 10cm (4 inches) between burning candles and tealights. Never place them under shelves or other enclosed spaces Keep candles, tealights, matches and lighters out of the reach of children and pets Keep candles and tealights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire Keep loose clothing and hair away from candles and tealights when they are lit Always put candles and tealights out and leave to cool down before you try to move them Use a candle snuffer or metal spoon to put candles and tealights out it is safer than blowing them out which can send sparks and hot wax flying Never leave candles and tealights unattended Never put tealights on plastic surfaces such as baths /Clevelandfb @Clevelandfb
Have you received EXCEPTIONAL customer service? The WOW! Awards celebrate staff who go above and beyond to help someone Nominate a member of staff by... Visiting: www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/nominate or sending us a short letter to: Cleveland Fire Brigade Communications & Engagement Team Stockton Road, Hartlepool, TS25 5TB Scan me with your smart phone /ClevelandFB /ClevelandFB