Fire safety

Fires in the home kill hundreds of people in the UK every year. Small fires are more common, but they can still cause serious injuries and damage homes and possessions.

By taking a few simple steps and being aware, you can lower the chances of a fire in your home.

Easy steps for fire safety

• Test your smoke alarm once a week by pressing the text button and holding it until the alarm sounds

• Change the battery in the alarm once a year, unless it's a 10 year alarm or connected to the mains
• Make a fire action plan so everyone in your home knows how to escape, if there's a fire
• Keep doors and windows clear so that people can escape, if there's a fire

• Make sure the keys to doors and windows are easy to find
• Be extra careful in the kitchen. More than half of fires in homes happen during cooking
• Be extra careful when cooking with hot oil. Think about buying a deep-fat fryer which is controlled by a thermostat
• Never leave candles lit in rooms that no one is in or rooms where children are on their own.
• Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn’t burn and are away from anything that could burn
• Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are carefully thrown away
• Never smoke in bed. Get into the habit of closing doors at night.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets and always switch off and unplug electrical when they’re not in use
• Keep matches and lighters where children can’t see or reach them
• Be extra careful when you’re tired or have been drinking