Nationwide

Last week, the Government’s new revamped campaign will highlight that candles, cigarettes, portable heaters and overloaded extension leads can lead to fires in any room of a home.

‘The campaign is also partnering with other organisations, including Dementia UK and retailer B&Q, to help spread the message.’ Through combining businesses, government and charities it can be seen that there is at present a collaborative effort to improve fire safety within the UK.

The campaign, developed with the help of the National Fire Chiefs Council also urges the public to test their smoke alarms at least once a month. ‘Home Office analysis has found you are around 8 times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home. Existing research also indicates that some people are more at risk of fire than others, such as older people and people with disabilities.’

Minister for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service Kit Malthouse said ‘at the very least, if you do nothing else, please buy smoke alarms for your home so you and yours can sleep easy. Susan Drayton, Clinical Lead of the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline at Dementia UK, adds ‘whilst installing a smoke alarm can help to mitigate against these risks, people and families with dementia can also contact their local fire service who can provide a free home fire safety visit to identify any hazards.’

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