Every year we hear warnings in the media telling us to stay safe from fireworks and take extra precaution on bonfire night. Of course this is immensely important, and the police reports of accidents never fail to shock us.
But it got us thinking, what about the rest of the year? What about the things that are right under our noses that could cause devastating accidents?
One of the important fire safety precautions are smoke alarms, and surprisingly they’re sometimes the most commonly overlooked form of fire safety. Did you know you’re four more times likely to die at home in a fire if you don’t have a smoke alarm?
In the UK, there are over 20,000 reported fires in the home each year, with 200 lives claimed last year and over 250,000 injuries. And it’s not just smoke alarms that cause potential fire risks. Some of the main culprits include:
Cooking equipment – when a pot or pan over heats or splatters grease, a fire can develop within seconds! Poorly cleaned ovens and surrounding areas cause thousands of fires each year due to build-up of grease.
Electrical equipment – outlets overloaded with plugs are a huge danger around the home. Plugging too many electrical appliances into one socket can potentially lead to overheating.
Flammable liquids – fuels, solvents, cleaning agents and other raw materials can ignite or explode if stored inadequately and carelessly. Vapours can easily ignite from even just a high temperature in their home.
Faulty appliances – statistics from government fire data show that the top 12 products around the home that can cause a fire are -
1. Washing machines
2. Tumble dryers
3. Dishwashers
4. Cookers
5. Fridge-freezer/fridge/freezer
6. Central heating
7. Microwave
8. Toaster/Grill
9. TV
10. Electric blanket
11. Washer dryers
12. Irons
Further fire safety advice can be found on the government’s website at:
• Fire safety tips at home and work
• Fire kills
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