Safety & Security

Fire Prevention

Many fires in the home are caused by simple carelessness, so please:

• Put cigarettes out properly before emptying ashtrays.
• Don’t smoke in bed.
• Don’t dry or air clothes around fires or cookers.
• Keep matches away from children.
• Put fireguards around fires.
• Unplug or switch off all electrical equipment not being used, look out for dander signs of faulty appliances or wiring such as: hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow for no obvious reason, lights flickering, scorch marks on plugs and sockets.
• Close all doors before going to bed.
• Take extra care when frying chips or other foods – never leave a chip pan unattended. If it catches fire smother it with a damp cloth – do not throw water on the pan.
• From the 1st July 2007 you should refrain from smoking in all internal common areas or blocks.
  

For further information on smokefree please follow the link: http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/

Working smoke alarms save lives. They give you those vital extra few moments to get your family out of harm’s way. Please fit them in your home – they are relatively cheap and easy to install. Check that they carry a quality mark such as the British Standard kite mark (BS) or a European Conformity mark (CE). You should also check and replace the batteries from time to time to make sure they are in full working order. Most smoke alarms are fitted with a test button so that you can easily check the smoke alarm is working.

Homes for Islington has fitted smoke alarms in tenanted homes at the same time as carrying out a gas safety check. The Fire Angel smoke alarm fits into a pendant light fitting and is charged-up whenever the light is used. This saves you buying batteries, is more convenient and involves less worry. If you have a Fire Angel smoke alarm and it starts to beep, this indicates it needs to be recharged by turning the light it is plugged into on for about 8 hours.

If fire breaks out:

• If it is safe too do so close all doors to prevent fire spreading.
• Get everyone out quickly.
• Call the fire brigade using 999 and give the exact address of the fire. Use a neighbour’s phone or public call box – never go back into your home to use your own phone.
• Stay out of your home until the fire brigade tells you it is safe to return.
  

For more information visit:
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/
http://www.fireangel.co.uk/