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safercommunities The onset of winter can bring its own fire-safety hazards for the home
Electric blankets have been known to cause fires and the fol- disposal. Place embers in a metal bucket and keep safe in an lowing is a set of highlights to watch out for: outside area, away from any structure and, after a week or so, either bury them into the garden or dispose of them carefully. • Always make sure your electric blanket is turned off before getting into bed; SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES If you do not have an operating smoke detector in your home • Make sure your electric blanket is always flat on the bed and and there’s a fire while you’re sleeping – consider yourself dead. that the controls and cords are not twisted; The fire service attended over 3800 house fires last years and, • If your blanket is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it in 80% of those fires, smoke detectors were either not fitted or with a newer model; not working. • Never use pins or sharp objects to secure to the bed and do Taking the gamble is not worth the tragic outcome that we see not fold the blanket or tuck it under the mattress; and all too often. • When you have finished using the blanket for the year; don’t When you are sleeping, you cannot smell the smoke and you fold it but roll it. will die if there is even a small fire generating lots of smoke. Those of you with wood burning fires: having your flue cleaned Station Officer Dave Lattimore on a regular basis is a good safety tip. Silverdale Volunteer Fire Brigade Every winter, the Fire Service attends fires that have been caused by hot embers being wrapped in paper and stored in bins for
