Take extra care - Stay safe from fire during industrial action written by
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue 1402396096
on the 10
th June 2014 at 11:28
- Posted in Fire Blog
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is encouraging residents to take extra care to protect their loved ones from the risks of fire. This valuable advice comes as the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) plan to hold further strike action as part of its national dispute with the Government over pensions. The strike will take place for a 24-hour period, from 9am on Thursday 12 June until 9am on Friday 13 June, and coincides with the first football World Cup game; Brazil against Croatia. During the last World Cup in 2010, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service attended 62 house fires over the four-week competition with 17 of them caused by unattended cooking and eight directly caused by chip pans. Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACO) Chris Lowther, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are encouraging everyone to take extra care on Thursday, especially as the World Cup starts that night. “Many people will be enjoying the start of the World Cup and enjoying a few alcoholic drinks. If you've had a drink and are feeling hungry please have a takeaway, don't attempt to cook whilst under the influence of alcohol. You wouldn't want a fire to spoil what should be a fun occasion. "More than 60% of fires attended by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service start in the kitchen, so we are reminding people to take extra care when cooking. Never leave cooking unattended, do not use chip pans and do not cook when under the influence of alcohol, where you could easily forget about it or worse, fall asleep. Also be careful not to get distracted by children or visitors. The same advice applies to using a BBQ." Chris continues: "I cannot emphasise enough the importance of having working smoke alarms. Every household should have one on every level and they should be checked monthly. They give you early warning of fire and can mean the difference between life and death, giving you extra time to get out safely, especially at night. Many people think they will wake up if there is a fire but this is not the case, just two to three breaths of toxic smoke will affect your ability to breathe, and can make you unconscious. "Every household should have an escape plan and everyone who lives there should know what it is and what to do should a fire break out. Fire and smoke can spread rapidly within a matter of minutes. The plan should take into account different escape routes and will remind you to check doors and windows so you know that they will open if you need them to escape in the event of a fire. Finally, if you do have a fire, get out of the house, stay out and call 999.†The FBU have also announced that they will be taking strike action from 10:00am until 5:00pm on Saturday 21 June. For more information on how to stay safe from fire please visit www.twfire.gov.uk or www.facebook.com/twfrs, www.twitter.com/tyne_wear_frswww.facebook.com/firekills.
