Homes and businesses across the Isle of Wight should be preparing for the winter months by carrying out vital, potentially life-saving safety checks.
Did you know that around 65 fires a year are caused by faulty electric blankets? In England, on average, 7,700 chimney fires occur every year and 2 fires a day are caused by heaters.
It was only yesterday afternoon that firefighters from Bembridge were called out to a chimney fire on board a houseboat on Embankment Road.
Open fires
• Be careful when using an open fire to keep you warm. Make sure you always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks and hot embers
• Make sure embers are under control and properly put out before you go to bed
• Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained
• Chimneys should be swept:
– Smokeless coals – at least once a year
– Wood – up to 4 times a year
– Bituminous coal – twice a year
– Oil – once a year
– Gas – once a year
Portable Heaters
• Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes
• Always unplug electric heaters when you go out or go to bed
• Try to secure heaters against a wall to stop them falling over
• Only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas. Heaters consume oxygen so you could suffocate if a room is not properly aired
Electric Blankets
• Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off
• Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use
• Store electric blankets flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damaging the internal wiring
• Test electric blankets every 3 years
• Try not to buy second-hand blankets and check regularly for wear and tear
• Replace your blanket when it is more than 10 years old
Powercuts – Alternative lighting
• Keep a battery operated light or torch handy in the event of a power cut or failure
• If you have to use candles or matches, always take special care. Put htem out completely before leaving the room or going to bed
• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains
• Keep a mobile phone handy so you can still make an emergency call if there is a power cut
Thatched Buildings
• Fit a smoke alarm in the loft and make sure it is connected with other alarms in the house
• Use lightning conductors that have been tested
Don’t burn rubbish or garden waste near a thatched property
• Use a bulkhead light fitting in your loft space, instead of an exposed light bulb, as these are more of a fire hazard
• Never light fireworks near a thatched property
• Fit TV aerials to free-standing poles to avoid thatched roofs being struck by lightning
More information about fire safety in the home can be found at www.iwight.com/fire.
