FIRE SAFETY ADVICE

At the Annual Neighbourhood Watch Seminar 2000, Station Commander Max Dissanayake of the London Fire Brigade told us of the Brigade's campaign to reduce the number of fires, deaths or injuries from fire and false alarms by 20%. Here's a brief summary:

Over 75% of all fires are accidental - with 47% of fires in the home caused by smoking and 32% caused by cooking. People under 18 years and over 60 years of age are most at risk of being injured or killed by fire. Since the Brigade arrive at a fire in under 8 minutes in over 95% of incidents, the only way to achieve this reduction is to persuade Londoners to make their homes and businesses safer. You will have seen the TV ads and leaflets encouraging you to fit smoke alarms and plan an escape route - but only 60% of homes in London have smoke alarms. There are around 90 deaths, 1,100 injuries and 6,700 house fires in London every year - and in Wandsworth alone in one year there were 571 property fires and 462 other fires. So what can we do?


1) FIT A SMOKE ALARM - in fact fit two or more which meet the BS5446 Part1 standard and display a 'kitemark'. The Fire Brigade say for minimum effective protection you should fit one on each floor of your house - one downstairs in the hall and one upstairs on the ceiling between bedrooms for most houses in our street. There should be advice on where to put them on the packaging. Test them by pressing the button once a month - and change the batteries once a year - make a note in your diary. The Fire Brigade say IF YOU DON'T HAVE WORKING SMOKE ALARMS IN YOUR HOME, YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVING A FIRE WHEN YOU ARE ASLEEP ARE ALMOST ZERO.


2) As a member of a Neighbourhood Watch, you've hopefully secured all your doors and windows and don't leave keys around - but have you considered how you would escape in the event of a fire? The Fire Brigade says PLAN AN ESCAPE ROUTE, AND AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE, FOR EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD - KEEP THOSE ROUTES CLEAR. Keep your keys with you at night.


3) IF YOUR ROUTES ARE BLOCKED IT'S SAFER TO STAY PUT AND PROTECT YOURSELF UNTIL THE FIRE BRIGADE ARRIVES. Identify a suitable room now - choose one with a window that opens and, if possible, a phone so that you can dial 999.


4) KEEP DOORS CLOSED AT NIGHT - this will help prevent the spread of smoke and fire. Do a safety check before going to bed each night - switch off as many electrical items as possible at the wall socket - check gas appliances and put a spark guard in front of open fires - put out cigarette ends and candles properly and keep matches and lighters away from children.


5) If your smoke alarm goes off while you're asleep, don't investigate to see if there's a fire, shout to wake everyone up, get together, follow your plan and get out. Check doors with the BACK of your hand - if they're warm do not open them - the fire is on the other side. If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along with your nose near the floor where the air will be cleaner. Call the Fire Brigade from a mobile phone, a neighbour's house or a phone box. Give the address of the fire. Don't stop or go back for anything. If your escape route is blocked, get everyone into one room and close the door. Smoke and fumes can kill quickly, so put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap. Open the window and stay near it for fresh air and to let firefighters see you. Phone the fire brigade or shout for help so someone else can phone for you.

This is just a summary - for more information visit www.community-fire-safety.org.uk. See also on-line leaflets at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/fepd/public.htm. For more information on fire safety in your home phone the Fire Brigade - 020 7582 3811.

Information in this article was taken from the speech by Station Commander Max Dissanayake at the Wandsworth Neighbourhood Watch Seminar 2000, London Fire Brigade and from Home Office leaflets 'Wake Up! Get A Smoke Alarm' and 'Make Your Plan - Get Out Alive'. Images reproduced from same Home Office leafltets published by the Home Office Communication Directorate with thanks.