cambridgeshire
www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/safermelbourn/
Cambridgeshire Fire And Rescue Service In Cambridgeshire there are over 400 accidental fires in people’s home each year. These have resulted in homes and treasured possessions being destroyed, people being injured, and tragically, in some cases people have lost their lives. Most people are aware of the dangers of fire but often think ‘it won’t happen to me’. The reality is that it could happen to anyone. The majority of accidental house fires could have been prevented by people taking a little more care to minimise the risks of fire in their home or by being more careful. In many cases, damage could have been reduced if smoke alarms had been present or working properly, as an earlier warning could have meant fire crews were alerted earlier.
• A correctly installed and working smoke alarm can
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give you and your family those valuable extra few minutes to make your escape as it will give you an early warning to a fire. Fit a smoke alarm that has the Kite mark or British Standard Number 5446. Test the smoke alarm once a week by pressing the test button and know the life expectancy of the battery. Mark the calendar to remind you when to replace the battery. A FREE Home Fire Safety Check may be available to you call 0800 917 99 94. Requests are prioritised according to individual risk. It will help if you have planned and practised your fire escape route in advance, rather than waiting until there is a fire. Get everyone out as quickly as possible and try not to panic. Don’t try to pick up valuables or possessions. Leave pets behind. Firefighters will rescue them when they arrive. If possible, close the door of the room where the fire is and close all doors behind you as you leave. This will help delay the spread of fire and smoke. Before opening a closed door, use the back of your hand to touch it. Don’t open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side. Smoke rises so stay low where it is easier to breathe. Telephone 999 and ask for the fire Service from a mobile phone, a neighbour’s house or a telephone box. Clearly state the address of the fire. The operator will ask
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questions to find out as much information from you as possible so the firefighters can be briefed while they are on their way and know what to expect. Never go back into the house until a fire officer has told you it is safe to do so.
Get Out - Stay Out - Call 999 If you are cut off from your escape route by the fire: If you are unable to use the door because of flames or smoke, close the door and use towels or bedding to block any gaps at the bottom of the door. This will help to prevent smoke and any fumes from spreading into the room. This should hold back the fire and smoke long enough for the fire service to arrive and rescue you. Make your way to the window. If the room becomes smoky, crawl along the floor where it will be easier to breathe because smoke rises. Open the window and attract the attention of others who can alert the fire service. If you are able to, stay by the window so firefighters can see you as soon as they arrive and can rescue you. If you are in immediate danger and your room is not above the first floor, drop cushions or bedding to the ground to break your fall from the window. If you can, get out feet first and lower yourself to the full length of your arms before dropping.
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Take action today, and don’t be left asking ‘why me?’
Spotlight on scams and mis-selling Recently the national press have covered the story of Sylvia Kneller, a pensioner who lost over £200,000 to scam letters over the past 56 years. Friends and family warned her that these were scams, but she didn’t want to believe them, ever hopeful that a big windfall would soon be hers. At Trading Standards we sadly come across residents in Cambridgeshire who have lost significant amounts of money, for some their life savings, to such scams. These scams are operated by career criminals who use sophisticated tactics to persuade you to part with your money. We hope the article below will help you to avoid many of the most common types of scam. continued on page 67 melbournmagazine
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