Elderly smokers get an alarming wake up call!
Warwickshire County Councils Fire and Rescue Service are asking elderly smokers to take extra care when smoking after stats released by the Fire Kills campaign showed alarming results.
Last year 2,274 people over the age of 60 were either killed or injured in domestic fires in England, smoking materials were the biggest cause of these incidents.
County Fire Officer, William Brown said:
“Tobacco is designed to stay lit, which is why cigarettes can so easily start an accidental fire. Nearly a third of all households have a smoker living in them and these households are nearly 35% more likely to have a fire, than non-smoking homes.
"These are shocking facts and should act as a deterrent to all those smokers out there. However, for those struggling to kick the habit it is important to remember that extra care needs to be taken when smoking at home.”
By following some simple precautions you can prevent a fire in your home:
· Take extra care when you’re tired, taking drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep without realising that your cigarette is still burning.
· Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.
· Never leave lit cigarettes cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down, land on a carpet or newspaper and start a fire. When you put it out, make sure it is right out.
· Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn. Make sure your cigarette is not still burning when you are finished – put it out, right out.
· Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - when a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999. You can get a basic smoke alarm for the same price as a packet of cigarettes. Better still are those smoke alarms with long-life batteries or are mains-powered.
For more information about fire safety, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue or http://www.firekills.gov.uk.