You are around 10 times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home.

Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.

Would your smoke alarm save you?

Get the facts:

 

  • fit smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including in each bedroom
  • working smoke alarms correctly positioned in your home can save your life
  • have a plan for how you’d leave your home if your smoke alarms go off – make sure everyone in your home knows what it is
  • do not put a smoke alarm in a kitchen or bathroom
  • do not paint over a smoke alarm
  • you need to replace smoke alarms every 10 years

Did you know?

  • cooking appliances are the main cause of fires in the home
  • around 5 accidental dwelling fires a day are started by smoking
  • faulty electrical appliances cause over 3,500 fires in the home each year
  • nearly 3 accidental dwelling fires a day are caused by candles
  • never put a smoke alarm in a kitchen or bathroom

Fire safety – it only takes one accident to start a fire

Fire safety – it only takes one accident to start a fire (audio described version)

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Cut the risk of fire in your home

Top tips for reducing fire risk in your home:

  • take pans off the heat or turn them down if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking
  • always stay in the kitchen when cooking, especially if you’re cooking with fat – never leave children in a kitchen cooking unattended
  • keep matches and saucepan handles out of the reach of children
  • keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
  • keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order to prevent them triggering a fire
  • use one plug per socket
  • keep heaters clear from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes
  • stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully
  • put candles in a holder and keep them away from things that may burn – never leave them burning when you’re not in the room
  • if your clothes catch fire, remember stop, drop and roll
  • a lot of fires start at night – do some checks before you go to bed

 

If a fire starts, get out, stay out, call 999. Do not tackle fires yourself – leave it to the professionals.