| Home Fire Safety Visits |  |
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| Les Davis Community
Fire Safety Liaison Officer talks about smoke detectors - and the importance of using them in the home |
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| Home fire safety
visits are completely free and can be booked by contacting either Chelmsford and Maldon community command or your local fire station. |
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| Every year an average 5 people die and a further 365 are injured in Essex as a result of domestic fires. Some 20% of homes still do not have smoke alarms and of those that do, many are not checked to ensure they are working. This is somewhat disappointingly, it is a sad fact that in a large proportion of the house fires attended by Essex Fire Service it is found that if either there is no smoke alarm or the one fitted was not working. Statistics show you are twice as likely to die in a fire without a working smoke alarm. | |||
| This campaign eliminates many of the excuses people use for not buying and installing smoke alarms. These have included, "I don't have young children" Fire strikes whether or not you have children. "Cooking always sets off the smoke alarm" Where appropriate the alarms will be supplied and fitted free and they are fitted with a temporary hush button if they are set off by cooking fumes. | |||
| Every home should have at least one smoke alarm that works - we at Essex Fire Service fit one smoke alarm per level of the home. There are different types of alarm available to suit people with specific needs, such as the hard of hearing, these can also be supplied and installed free of charge. | |||
| Once an alarm has been installed by Essex Fire Service, it still needs to be tested every week, the battery does not need to be changed every year, they are fitted with a 10-year battery. If you do not have a ten year smoke alarm the battery will need to be changed every year, whichever alarm you have the case should be opened and vacuumed every 6 months This prevents a build up of dust which can effect the efficiency of the alarm. Put a note on your calendar to remind you of these dates. | |||
| Remember push the button- not your luck- you need to test your alarm regularly to ensure that it is working correctly. | |||
| Until next time take care and remember Home Fire safety visits are completely free and can be booked by contacting either Chelmsford and Maldon community command or your local fire station. | |||
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