Ten tips for family fire safety

The government fire safety campaign, ‘Fire Kills’, aims to combat this by arming parents with the following vital information to keep them and their children safe in the home.

• Set clear kitchen rules for young children such as: never play with matches, never switch on the cooker, never put anything on top of the cooker and don’t touch any saucepans on the cooker.

• Make sure young children know that the kitchen is not a play area – never leave younger children alone in the kitchen when you’re cooking and never let them play near the oven and hob.

• Get ‘key clever’ – encourage your children to check that keys are in the correct place. Keys for windows and doors should be kept in an accessible place, so you can get out quickly during a fire.

• Nominate your child to be the ‘Escape champ’ – regularly role-play escape routes and give children the responsibility to keep escape routes clear.

• Discuss how to call 999 – make sure children know which number to call in an emergency. Also ensure that they know their address and that both are pinned up by the phone. Explain the importance of only calling 999 in a real emergency.

• Keep candles, lighters and matches out of children’s reach. Never leave burning candles unattended.

• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm – you should have one on each level of your home and test it weekly. Smoke alarms should be close to kitchens, but not in kitchens.

• Don’t remove the batteries – if your smoke alarm keeps going off accidentally while you are cooking, don’t remove the batteries. Instead move the alarm or change it for one with a silencer button.

• In the event of a fire ‘Get out, Stay out and Call 999!’ – don’t delay for valuables, investigate or try to tackle the fire. Use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box to call 999. If someone needs to be rescued wait safely outside for the fire-fighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Never go back in.

• Take advantage of local Fire and Rescue Services, which offer a Home Fire Risk Check service, where they visit homes to offer advice on keeping safe from fire throughout the year. They may also be able to install smoke alarms free of charge.

For fire safety advice, visit: www.direct.gov.uk/firekills

To find out more about Child Safety Week, visit: www.childsafetyweek.org.uk