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F5360 V1: November 2020Fire safety

Smoke alarmsContents3Smoke alarms4Smoking6E-cigarettes (vapes)8In the kitchen10CandlesFit smoke alarms andtest them every monthGet a smoke alarm fitted in anyroom where a fire could start.11 Your balcony12 Heating your home safely13 Preventing electrical fires18 Carbon monoxide safety – gas boilers, fires and stovesThink about linking your smokealarm to a Telecare service.They can call for help if you can’t.20 Hoarding21 Skin creams and lotions22 Planning for an emergency23 What to do if there is a fire in your home25 What to do if you can’t get outYou can get a special alarmif you are deaf, hard of hearingor have a visual impairment.Contact your local councilfor more information.26 If you live in a flat28 At bedtime31 If your clothes are on fire32 Your fire plan36 For more information2Telecare helps to keep youindependent in your home.You have a button worn on apendant or bracelet that you canpress if you need help urgently.3

SmokingSmokingSmoking cigarettesIt is better not to smoke.If you feel sleepyNever smoke in an armchairif you think you may fall asleep.Never smoke in bed.You can get information andsupport on quitting from:The NHS Smokefree helpline:0300 123 1044.Your local doctor (GP).When you havefinished smokingPut the cigarette out safely.Put water in the ashtray beforeemptying it into the bin.If you do smokeUse a deep ashtray.Cigarettes are less likelyto fall or roll out.Matches and lightersWhile you are smokingKeep matches and lighters outof the reach and sight of children.Always stay near the cigarettewhile it is burning.45

E-cigarettes (vapes)E-cigarettes, also called vapes,can help you to stop smokingbut they still need to be used safely.Only buy e-cigarettesfrom well-known shops.E-cigarettes (vapes)Keep e-cigarettes away from:Oxygen equipment.Airflow mattresses.Only use the charger thatcame with the e-cigarette.Stay in the same room whilethe e-cigarette is charging.Oxygen is a chemical that is in the air.Some people need extraoxygen to breathe.Extra oxygen in the air canmake a fire burn more quickly.Only charge the e-cigarettein the daytime.Airflow mattresses use air tokeep you comfortable and cool in bed.Keep the e-liquids awayfrom children and pets.6They are good for people whohave to stay in bed for a long time.7

In the kitchenIn the kitchenCookingIf a pan catches fireOnly start cooking if you arewide awake and well.Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do this.Leave the kitchen and close the door.Always stay in the kitchen whenthere are hot pans on the cooker.Shout ‘Fire!’ to warn others.Keep children and pets away fromthe cooker while you are using it.Close all doors on the way out.CookersAlways turn off your cookerwhen you have finished using it.8Go outside and call 999.9

CandlesYour balconyHow to stay safe using candles,incense sticks and oil burnersKeep them away from curtains,clothing and furniture.Always stay in the room whilethe flame is burning.Make sure the flame is outbefore you go to bed.Don’t put things that mightcatch fire on your balcony.Put cigarettes out in abowl of sand or water.Never throw a cigarette buttor lit match off a balcony.It could start a fire somewhere else.It is safer to use flamelessLED candles.Never use a barbeque on the balcony.LED candles use batteries andlook just like normal candles.1011

Heating your home safelyPrevent electrical firesPortable heaters and open firesElectric socketsAlways sit at least one metre awayfrom portable heaters or the fireplace.Only plug one applianceinto each electric socket.Make sure that heaters areturned off, or the fire is completelyout before going to bed.Extension leadsAlways use an extension lead with a fuse.Make sure it has a European Safetymark or British Standard kite mark on it.Drying washingAlways make sure that washing iskept at least one metre away froma heater or open fireplace.12An appliance is an electrical deviceor machine, like a washing machine,kettle or toaster.13

Prevent electrical firesLight bulbsReplace halogen bulbswith LED bulbs if possible.Prevent electrical firesElectric blanketsDo not use an electric blanket:on an airflow mattressif you use creams or lotions to helpwith severe skin conditions orto stop you getting sores.Use bulbs that are the right size and wattage.Make sure bulbs are fitted correctly– loose bulbs may get too hot.Do not put anything over the bulbas it can get very hot and cause a fire.Halogen bulbs and LED bulbs aretwo different types of light bulbs.Halogen bulbs are much hotter than LEDbulbs. They are more likely to cause a fireif things are placed too close to them.14Only buy an electric blanket froma well-known shop.Store the blanket rolled up so thatthe wiring inside does not get damaged.Regularly check that the blanketand wiring are not damaged.Buy a new blanket every 10 yearsor earlier if it gets damaged.15

Prevent electrical firesPrevent electrical firesBatteries and chargersFaulty electric productsMany electrical devices have a battery inside.Electric appliances such as fridges,freezers, washing machines and dryerscan cause fires if they have a fault.You put electricity into thebattery with a charger.Only use the charger that came withthe device. If you need a new one,get it from the maker of the device.Unplug the charger once the battery is full.If your electric product has a fault, youshould stop using it and contact the retailer.Check with the Government website to see ifthe product has been recalled by the e care when buying second-hand products.Make sure they have been checked for safety.Put your device on a hard surface likea table before you start to charge it up.Never cover devices that are charging.They can get hot.16There is more information available onthe Electrical Safety First website:www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.ukRecall is when the company that madesomething asks everyone to send it backbecause it may be dangerous.17

Carbon monoxide safetyCarbon monoxide safetyGas boilers, fires and stovesGet a carbon monoxide alarm fitted.Carbon monoxide is a verypoisonous gas that can kill.This will tell you if there are anypoisonous gases in the air.Gas boilers, wood burning stovesand open fires may give off a gascalled carbon monoxide if theyare faulty or the flue is blocked.There is more information availablefrom the Gas Emergency Line:Carbon monoxide can form whenthere is not enough air around fuelburners and boilers or if they are faulty.It is important that they arechecked and serviced ceCarbon monoxide poisoningIf you breathe in carbon monoxide you can get any of these:If you breathe in carbon monoxide gasyou will become ill. You might even die.HeadachesDizzinessCarbon monoxide has no taste or smell,so it’s hard to know if it is there.BreathlessnessCollapse1819NauseaLoss ofconsciousness

HoardingSkin creams and lotionsSkin creams or lotions (sometimes calledemollients) help to prevent skin sores.If you store lots of things in your home,it could make a fire spread faster.Anyone using them should keep awayfrom naked flames like candles or cigarettes.It could stop you getting out safely.Clothing, bedding, dressings and bandageswith cream on them can catch fire veryeasily if they are close to a naked flame,heater or cooker.If you use these creams:don’t smokeIf you find it hard to manage with allthe things you have, you can get help.keep away from nakedflames like candlesavoid or take extra careusing gas or electric hobsnever sit too close to heaters suchas gas, electric or halogen fires.You can get help from Hoarding UK:www.hoardinguk.org20If you are worried about the type of skincream you are using, speak to health careproviders like your Doctor for advice.21

Planning foran emergencyWhat to do if thereis a fire in your homeMake a fire planMake sure everyone in the homeknows what to do if there’s a fire.Practice your fire plan.If you hear the smoke alarmDo not ignore it. Follow yourescape plan and go outside.How to get out fastKeep hallways, landings andstairs clear of anything that mightblock or slow down your escape.Tell othersShout ‘Fire!’.Door and window keysKeep your door and window keys whereeveryone can find them in an emergency.Mobility AidsKeep all walking frames, crutchesand walking sticks near to theperson who uses them.22Check the doors to seeif they are warm or hotUse the back of your hand. Leave thedoor closed if it feels warm or hot.23

What to do if thereis a fire in your homeWhat to doif you can’t get outIf there is smokeSmoke is poisonous.Keep low so that you can breathe cleaner air.Go into a room with a window.Block the bottom of the doorwith bedding or a towel tokeep the smoke out.DoorsClose all of the doors after you.This will prevent the fire from spreading.999Call 999Stay close to the openwindow for fresh air.As soon as you are safely outside,use your mobile phone to dial 999.Ask for the fire brigade.Give them your address.Do not go back inside.24If you have a phone, call 999 orshout ‘Fire!’ from the window.25

If you live in a flat999If you live in a flatIf there is a fire orsmoke in your flat:If there is a fire somewhereelse in the building:Leave the flat and go outside.Close all doors on your way out.Keep the front door closed anduse a towel or blanket to blockany gap at the bottom.Do not use the lift.The doors in blocks of flats will protectyou from fire for at least 30 minutes.Call 999As soon as you are safely outside,use your mobile phone to dial 999.Ask for the fire brigade.Only leave the flat if told to do soby the building manager or a fire officer.Give them your address.Do not go back inside.2627

At bedtimeAt bedtimeDoorsClose all of the doors. This willprevent any fire from spreading.Tablets, mobile phonesand e-cigarettesDon’t leave any deviceson charge at night-time.Electric appliancesSwitch off and unplug all appliancesexcept the ones that should stay onlike the fridge and freezer.Don’t use washing machines, dishwashersor tumble driers at night-time.28Make sure portable heatersare switched off.Oil burners, candlesand incense sticksAlways make sure these areput out before you go to bed.29

At bedtimeIf your clothes are on fireKeysStop.Keep door and window keys whereeveryone you live with can find them.Don’t run around.Make sure that all cigarettesare properly put out andpour water in the ashtray.Drop to the floor.Roll around to putthe flames out.3031

Your fire planMy Fire PlanIf there is smokeor fire in my home:Remove the next 2 pages.Get out – go to:Fill in the blanks so that you knowwhat to do if there is a fire.Put them somewhere where you can seethem easily, like on the front door.Your carer, key worker or socialworker can help you.999Call 999 and ask for the firebrigade. Tell the operator thereis a fire and give the address:Shout “Fire!”Stay away from the fire32

My Fire PlanIf there is smokeor fire somewhereelse in the building:999Call 999 and ask for the firebrigade. Tell the operator thereis a fire and give the address:It is usually safer to stay inyour own flat unless fire orsmoke is affecting you.Do what the fire brigadeor people who provideyou with support say.

For more informationTo arrange a FREE home fire safety visitand get fire safety advice from our staff,call us on: 08000 28 44 28Or visit our website:www.london-fire.gov.uk36

can help you to stop smoking but they still need to be used safely. E-cigarettes (vapes) E-cigarettes (vapes) Only buy e-cigarettes from well-known shops. Only use the charger that came with the e-cigarette. Stay in the same room while the e-cigarette is charging. Only charge the e-cigarette in the daytime. Keep the e-liquids away