Be warm, be safe this winter

With the sudden drop in temperatures, we are warning people to make sure they stay safe and warm this winter by following our advice.

You may be thinking of making a few changes at home as the weather turns colder and homes need heating. It’s important you do this safely.

The winter months see us attending more incidents involving open fires, chimney fires and electric heaters, sadly some of these result in serious injury and even death.

Last winter three people in our county sadly died in accidental house fires and a further two people were injured.

Ian Read, Head of Prevent, Protect and Partnerships at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is vital that we continue to get the word out there about how people can heat themselves and their homes safely this winter.

“It’s getting cold already and we know it can be tempting to look at different methods in maintaining comfortable temperatures in the home.

“However, if you over-load sockets, use logs and fuel improperly or don’t keep a watchful eye on candles or heaters, you run the risk of inadvertently falling victim to a fire.

“To check how safe you or a family member are from fire we have an online fire safety tool that takes you through a basic check. If the check identifies you as being at higher risk of fire it will generate a referral so we can come out to visit you to reduce your risk.”

To keep yourself warm but safe this winter follow our safety advice:

• Visit our online fire safety tool to check how safe you are from fire
• If using heaters, ensure they are kept a safe distance away from other items and materials
• People with mobility issues or conditions such as dementia are at higher risk when using heating sources with an open flame. Other heating sources should be used if possible.
• Electric heaters should be plugged into a wall socket – do not use extension leads as they can easily be overloaded and cause a fire.
• Only run dishwashers, washers and tumble dryers when you are awake. They can cause fires and at night you’ll have less time to react and escape
• Get your chimney swept professionally and always use a fireguard
• Store fuel, such as logs, away from any heat source
• Use appropriate fuel on open fires and log burners. Look for the Woodsure ‘Ready to Burn’ logo
• Camping stoves, BBQs and outdoor heaters should only be used outdoors
• Candles are a big fire risk, LED candles are much safer, or use a torch