Awareness for fire safety

General precautions you can take to avoid fire

1.    Don't leave children alone with matches, lighters or candles.
 Consider buying child resistant matchboxes or lighters.
2.    Make sure you put candles in a secure proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire - like curtains.
3.    Put candles out when you leave a room and use a snuffer or a spoon - this is safer then blowing them out which can cause sparks to fly.
4.    Never smoke in bed.
5.    Use a proper ashtray - never a waste paper basket.
6.    Make sure your ashtray cannot tip over and that it will not burn.  Don't leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around.
7.    Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully.
8.    Don't put ashtrays on sofas or chairs.
9.    Take extra care if you smoke when you're tired, taking prescription drugs or if you've been drinking.  You might fall asleep and set your bed or sofa on fire.

Electrical fires
1.    Check you use the right fuse to prevent overheating.
2.     Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
3.    Keep to one plug per socket.
4.    Unplug appliances when you are not using them or when you go to bed.

5.    Keep your eyes peeled for signs of dangerous or loose wiring, such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason, or flickering lights.
6.    Report any electrical property repairs to us immediately.
7.    Check and replace old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view - e.g. under carpets or behind furniture.
8.    Electric blankets.-don't leave them folded - store them flat or rolled up.  Unplug them before you go to bed unless there is a thermostat for safe all-night use.  Don't buy second hand blankets and check them regularly for wear and tear.
9.    Portable heaters. If you need to use them, try to secure them against a wall to stop them falling over.  Keep them clear from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
 Advice for the kitchen
1.    Avoid leaving children alone in the kitchen when you are cooking.  Keep matches and sauce pans handles out of their reach.
2.    Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking.  Take pans off the heat or turn the heat down.
3.    Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob. Avoid wearing loose clothing - this can easily catch fire.
4.    Double check that the cooker is off when you have finished cooking.
5.    Keep electric leads and appliances away from water.
6.    Keep toasters clean and away from curtains or blinds.
7.    Keep the oven and hob clean - a build up of fat can start a fire.
8.    Don't put anything metal in the microwave.
9.    Take care when cooking with hot oil - it sets alight easily If the oil starts to smoke - it's too hot.  Turn off the heat and leave to cool.
10.    Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer that cannot overheat.

Communal areas (for people living in flats)
1.    Don't store anything in communal areas - it can block your escape route.
2.    In particular, don't keep petrol or diesel powered vehicles, including motorbikes, in the communal areas, in your home or on balconies - they are a potential fire risk.  If you do not follow this advice, you will be in breach of your tenancy conditions and risk losing your home.
3.    Don't put anything under stairs - again this is a potential fire risk and could block your exit if there were a fire.  If others are doing any of the above, contact the council immediately so we can remove and give appropriate advice
4.    Report any damage or repairs to communal doors or lighting immediately so that we can carry out the necessary repairs.
5.    Don't keep mobility scooters in the communal areas - they contain plastic - if they catch fire they will give off fumes as well as blocking your escape route.

Smoke alarms
1.    Check your smoke alarm regularly. Test it by pressing the button until the alarm sounds and if it doesn't sound, replace the battery.
2.    Never take a battery out of a smoke alarm without immediately replacing it. If your smoke alarm starts to bleep on a regular basis, you need to replace the battery immediately.