Fire safety tips

Please see below 10 top tips for keeping your home fire safe: 

1. Fit smoke alarms on each floor level, keep them dust free and test them once a week. 
2. Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape in the event of a fire. Make sure that everyone can find keys for doors and windows easily. 
3. Keep exits clear of obstructions so that people can make their escape. 
4. Take care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for 59% of fires in the home. 
5. Take extra care with hot cooking oil – consider buying an electric thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer if you don’t use one already. 
6. Never leave lit candles unattended and ensure they are in a secure, non-flammable holder. 
7. Dispose of cigarette ends carefully and never smoke in bed. 
8. Don’t overload electrical sockets, especially when using multi-socket extensions. 
9. Don’t leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby. 
10. Keep matches and lighters away from children. 

Avoid using self-heating meal kits indoors

Fire and Rescue Services have warned against using self-heating meal kits indoors. These kits rely upon an ‘exothermic’ (heat-producing) chemical reaction produced by adding water to a base; upon which food is placed.

There have been incidents where these kits have been used in a confined space, setting off the Carbon Monoxide Alarm. While these products aren’t dangerous when used outside or when camping due to adequate ventilation, using them inside can expose you to dangerous Carbon Monoxide gas that’s released during the reaction.

Please only use the kits as instructed and NEVER indoors.