Home Fire Safety

Prevent a fire occurring:

Open Fires

• Always keep a spark guard in front of an open fire.
• Use a secure fire guard when children are in the room.
• Avoid banking fires too high.
• If you have a chimney fire call the fire brigade.

Portable Heaters

• Keep portable heaters away from curtains and furniture.
• Keep portable heaters away from draughts
• Never move a gas or oil heater when it is in use.
• Never refill a hot oil heater.
• Never use a portable heater for drying clothes.
• Respect electricity
• Check flexes for signs of wear regularly and replace if necessary.
• Don't run flexes under carpets or rugs where they can be damaged.
• Replace blown fuses with one of the correct rating.
• Don't overload sockets - one socket, one plug is a safe rule.
• Get a qualified electrician to carry out repairs.
• Follow the manufacturers instructions for electric blankets.
• Use socket covers if there are children in the house.

Gas Appliances

• Always keep gas cylinders upright and switch off at the regulator when not in use.
• Have adequate ventilation in all rooms where gas heaters are used.
• Check flexible hoses regularly for signs of wear and have them replaced.
• Store gas cylinders in the open air.
• If you suspect a leak, do not switch on lighting or any electrical appliance, ventilate the area, switch off the gas at source, contact your gas supplier.

Cooking

• Never hang cloths directly over cookers or hobs.
• Turn pot handles inwards on the hob.
• Do not wear loose sleeves while cooking.
• Use a thermostatically controlled chip pan.
• Never overfill a chip pan.
• Never leave a chip pan unattended.

Smoking

• Use proper ashtrays on a firm base.
• Last thing at night check that a smouldering cigarette has not fallen into seating or onto carpets.
• Never, never, never smoke in bed.

Children

• Never leave children alone in the house
• Use secure fire guards in front of open fires.
• Never allow children to throw anything on an open fire.
• Keep children clear of the cooker when you are using it.
• Switch off and unplug appliances when not in use.
• Use child proof socket covers.
• Keep matches out of reach of children.