A TOP 10 of festive fire safety tips has been drawn up by West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service as part of a nationwide Christmas campaign, which EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny is spearheading.
Called ‘Don’t Drown In Toxic Smoke’, the campaign highlights how toxic smoke can affect the human body. A sleeping couple are shown being overcome by the drowning sensation of toxic smoke when a fire breaks out in their home at night.
Jackie Boyle, Community Fire Safety Officer, said: “People underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape if a fire breaks out.
“The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious.
“The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue. But people are especially vulnerable at Christmas for a range of reasons – from unsafe electrical decorations, unattended candles through to cooking while drunk.”
The Top 10 tips are:
1 Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on all levels of your home – test it weekly and never remove the batteries to power presents!
2 Don’t leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking when drunk – remember most fires start in the kitchen.
3 Never leave candles unattended – keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper well away from lights, heaters, fires and candles.
4 Switch off your fairy lights – unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house and check they conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
5 Always use an RCD (residual current device) on any outdoor electrical equipment.
6 Don’t overload sockets – use one plug per socket and turn off plugs when not in use.
7 Fully extinguish your cigarettes – and don’t smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.
8 Check on any older neighbours or relatives – they are at much greater risk from fire.
9 Call in the experts – West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service offers a free home fire safety check to identify potential risk, offer advice and install a smoke alarm where needed.
10 In the event of a fire: get out, stay out and call 999.
Jill Halfpenny said: “As a mum I am very conscious of trying to keep my home as safe as possible to reduce the risks from fire.
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