Keep warm, keep safe

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to ‘Keep Warm – Keep Safe’, in particular it is asking relatives, friends and neighbours to keep an eye on the elderly as the current cold snap continues.

County Fire Officer, Barry Dixon said: “During this period we would ask that friends and neighbours check on the elderly whenever possible. It may be that they do not have a smoke alarm or that you are concerned for their well being with regard to fire safety in the home. This is a period when more heating, including portable heaters and electric blankets are used, which increases the risk of fire”.

During the winter months the elderly are far more likely to have an accidental fire than at any other time of the year, sometimes with tragic consequences. The most common causes of these fires are: 

• Smoking materials- carelessly discarded cigarettes 
• Cooking appliances/chip pans- left on when people become distracted 
• Open fires and heating appliances- too close to something which can catch fire

For this reason these safety points should be remembered: 

• Never smoke in bed or when you’re feeling drowsy
• Never leave cooking unattended
• Never leave lit candles unattended, have a torch handy in case the lights go off
• Always use a fireguard around an open fire and make sure the chimney is kept clean
• Have electric blankets checked regularly by a qualified electrician– don’t leave them switched on and never use them at the same time as a hot water bottle
• Fit a smoke alarm and check it regularly
• In the event of a fire Get Out, Call 999 and Stay Out