1. Dealing with an Emergency.

• Get out, stay out!
  Never tackle a fire yourself - Get Out - Stay Out - CALL THE FIRE SERVICE OUT.
   
• Dial 999 and ask the Operator for the Fire Service.
  Calls are FREE and you can call from a mobile even with the keypad locked.
   
• Stay on the line until you have spoken to the Fire Service Operator.
  Be calm and tell the operator the exact LOCATION and NATURE of the emergency.

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2. General Fire Prevention Advice.

Specific advice for those living in rented accomodation is available in our Fire Safety for Tenants [pdf 282 KB] leaflet.

2.1 Fire Action Plan.

You don't have to be a victim of fire, some basic precautions will give you a few precious moments to escape a fire. Make a fire action plan, get everyone in the house involved so that they are all familiar with it and know what to do if there is a fire.

Consider the following when forming your action plan :-

• Look around your home for a practical escape route including an alternative should your normal way be blocked.
• Take everyone into account in particular vulnerable individuals (children, the elderly and the infirm).
• Make sure everyone knows where door keys are kept.
• Ensure all internal doors are closed at night.
• Do a safety check before going to bed at night.
• Practice your action plan.

2.2 In the event of a Fire.

• Wake everyone up, get everyone together and get everyone out.
• Check doors with the back of your hand - if they are warm, don't open them.
• If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along on the floor.
• If you have to break the window, cover the jagged glass with thick towels or bedding.
• Throw some bedding out of the window to break your fall.
• Don't jump - lower yourself to arm's length and drop to the ground.
• Dial 999 from a mobile, a neighbour's house or a phone box.
• Never go back into the building.
  REMEMBER: Get out, stay out.

2.3 If you're trapped...

If you are trapped or can't escape from a window...

• Get everyone into one room and close the door.
• Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in.
• Open the window and stay near to it for fresh air and so the firefighters can see you.
• Dial 999 or shout for help so that someone else can phone for you.

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3. Smoke Alarms.

3.1 Know the Facts!

Most fires start at night and the real killer is smoke. If you are asleep and you don't have a smoke alarm to wake you up, your chances of survival are virtually zero. Smoke alarms are cheap, easy to install and give you vital extra time to escape.

• A basic smoke alarm costs as little as £5.
• You can buy Smoke Alarms in most high street stores, supermarkets, and DIY and electrical shops.
• Fit them on every floor level in your home, where you can hear them clearly throughout. Good places are at the top of the staircase, hallways, corridors or landings.
• Don't fit smoke alarms next to cooking areas or near bathrooms, where smoke or steam can set them off accidentally.
• Remember: beeping alarms can be a sign that the battery needs replacing.
• You can also buy alarms fitted with 10-year batteries or alarms which plug into the light socket and charge up when the light is switched on.
• If your alarm keeps going off while you are cooking, move it further away from the kitchen or buy an alarm with a 'hush' button - this will silence the alarm for a short time if it goes off accidentally.
• If you need help with fitting your alarm, contact East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service for advice.

3.2 Smoke Alarm maintenance.

• Check the batteries once a week. Remember- 'Push the Button! Not your Luck'
• Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries every year.
• Use your vacuum cleaner to get rid of any dust inside it when you change its battery.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing or maintaining it.

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4. Fire Safety in the Bedroom.

4.1 Night time routine.

A night time routine should be encouraged before going to bed. It should involve shutting all doors, putting fire guards in place, switching off electrical appliances that are not required and ensuring that ash trays are emptied into a metal container and this should be disposed of outside.

4.2 Smoking.

Smoking in bed is a major cause of fire - the more you discourage it the better. If you know that someone is going to smoke in bed, despite your warnings, ensure that a deep ashtray is available next to the bed.

4.3 Electric Blankets.

Did you know that 5000 fires are caused by defective electric blankets? If your blanket or any part of the wiring shows any of these danger signs, you should have it checked or replaced:

• Fraying fabric
• Scorch marks
• Exposed elements
• Creasing or folding
• Soiling
• Damp patches
• Tie tapes damaged or missing
• Worn flex
• Loose connections
• An old BEAB safety mark - a round symbol (the new sign is white capital letters on a black background). This means it is more than 10 years old.

Make sure your blanket is tested by an expert at least every three years. You can ask the shop where you bought it about testing and servicing, or contact the trading standards department at your local council - they often have free testing days (Further details are available are available on the Electric Blanket Testing Sessions Page).

Over blankets are designed to be left switched on, but under blankets must be switched off before getting into bed. Hot water bottles should not be used in the same bed as an electric blanket - even if the blanket is switched off.

Storing your blanket in the correct manner will ensure you get the best from it. Don't fold electric blankets as it can damage the wiring. Better to roll them. Or you can store blankets by putting them on a spare bed. Electric underblankets can be left on your bed all year if you wish.

You should replace you electric blanket at least every 10 years. Ensure it is of British or European standard and has a safety certification mark. Make sure the blanket has an overheat protection.

4.4 Candles.

If subdued lighting is required, a low wattage bulb should be used in the lamp - it should not be covered with a cloth. Candles should never be used as a night light. Where candles are used for other purposes, please follow our guidelines below.

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5. Fire Safety in the Living Room.

• Where possible, replace polyurethane foam furniture with safer, approved fire retardant foam furniture.
• Always have a guard around an open fire. Logs or coal should be stored outside the guard - preferably in a covered container.
• Mirrors should not be hung above the fireplace - it encourages people to get too close to the fire.
• Clothes should not be 'aired' too close to the fire.
• Aerosol sprays are highly flammable - they should not be kept near any heat source.
• Badly worn carpets or rugs can be a tripping hazard, causing elderly people to fall into the fire.
• Where candles are used, follow our guidelines below (click here).

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6. Fire Safety in the Bathroom.

The bathroom does not cause too many problems in terms of fire but remember that water and electricity do not mix. Heaters should be fixed high on a wall, not over the bath or within reach of the taps. Portable electric appliances should not be taken into the bathroom.

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7. Fire Safety in the Kitchen.

Cooking accidents are the most common cause of accidental fires in the home and Chip pan fires cause more injuries than anything else. The following rules will help you to fry food safely :-

• Chip pans should never be filled more than one third full.
• Chips should never be left to cook unattended.
• Dry chips before putting them into hot oil otherwise the oil could boil over.
• Never put the chips in the pan if the oil has started smoking.
• Where possible, replace chip pans with thermostatically controlled, automatic cut off deep fat fryers.

Some other common causes of fires in the kitchen are :-

• Food left to cook unattended.
• Cookers left on when leaving the kitchen. Electric cookers should be switched off at the cooker console - not just at the main switch on the wall. It's all too easy to switch that on again, forgetting the pan left on earlier.
• Irons left switched on when not in use.
• Clothing and towels kept too close to cookers.
• Pan handles facing across a lighted burner or hotplate.
• The flex from kettles or other kitchen appliances being too close to cooker hotplate surfaces.

The following issues should be considered when equipping kitchens for use by vulnerable members of the community :-

• Select cookers and other appliances with large controls that are easier for the elderly to use.
• Brightly coloured controls assist those with poor eyesight.
• Provide a simple timer alarm to use in conjunction with cooking. When a pan of food is placed on the cooker, click the alarm. After a set time the alarm will sound, reminding you to switch off the cooker.
• Replace matches with safer alternatives. For example, provide a safety lighter, which switches off automatically when dropped.

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8. Electrical Fire Prevention Tips.

• Electrical sockets should not be overloaded - one appliance per socket is safest.
• Ensure that the flex is in good condition and not running under the carpet or rug. If the flex has to be extended, fit a completely new flex - don't join pieces of flex together.
• Electrical appliances should not be run from light sockets.
• Encourage switching off at mains sockets and removal of plugs. There are plugs available with handles for those with arthritic joints.
• If you hear of fuses blowing or lights flickering, or you see brown scorch marks on sockets or plugs, ask a qualified electrician to check it out - these are the warning signs!
• Replace old, worn out electrical systems. In the event of a power cut, ensure that all appliances are switched off. There is a danger that they could come on again, unnoticed, after the power is restored, if they are not switched off.

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9. Chimney Fire Prevention Tips.

9.1 Using a chimney sweep will.

• Eliminate the build up of soot.
• Clears blockages which could result in fumes entering the room and causing drowsiness and potentially, asphyxiation.
• Provide valuable advice on any remedial work that may be necessary.
• Help prevent chimney fires.

9.2 When to clean the chimney and liners.

• Smokeless fuels - at least once a year.
• Bituminous coal - at least twice a year.
• Wood - quarterly when in use.
• Oil - once per year.
• Gas - once per year.

9.3 Precautions with open fires.

• Do not overfill a fire grate incase coals fall out.
• Use a spark guard.
• Do not place a mirror above a fire, people may stand to close.
• Do not position furniture too close to the fire.

9.4 How do I know when I have a chimney fire.

• Excessive amounts of smoke.
• Embers falling down the chimney.
• A roaring noise.
• Brickwork around the chimney can be very hot.

9.5 What to do in the event of a chimney fire.

• Put the spark guard on and call 999.
• REMEMBER - If it is left unattended, a chimney fire can spread into the rest of the house.
• Some people fear that they will be charged for the Fire Service to attend a chimney fire - this is not true.

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10. Heater Fire Prevention Tips.

• Heaters should be kept away from furniture and fittings. Ensure that nothing can fall onto a heater. Discourage the use of paraffin heaters. If you cannot do this, please ensure that you are the one who refills the heater. Store the paraffin outside in a metal container.
• Portable gas heaters should have the cylinders stored and changed outside, in the open air or in a ventilated atmosphere.
• Both paraffin and gas heaters should only be used in a well ventilated area. They consume oxygen from the atmosphere and could cause asphyxiation.
• If the gas supply fails, switch off all gas appliances. Have the gas company emergency number available near the phone. Should a householder suspect gas or detect a leak, the gas company should be called immediately. Electrical switches should not be operated, neither on nor off. Doors and windows should be opened and there must be no smoking. You should encourage residents to seek assistance from a neighbour in these circumstances.
• suspect gas leaks should never be detected using a naked flame

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11. Candle Fire Prevention Tips.

During the year 2000, candles caused over 2000 house fires in the UK. The majority of these occurred in the bedroom or living rooms and many resulted in fatalities. The following guidelines will help to prevent fires caused by candles :-

• Always place candles well away from curtains, furniture and drapes.
• Always keep candles out of draughts.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Never leave a candle burning unattended.
• Keep candles away from hair and clothes.
• Always place candles upright in suitable holders, which cannot fall over easily.
• Always make sure that candles are properly extinguished, especially before going to bed.

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12. Smoking - Put it out. Right out. Fire Kills.

Did you know that more people die in smoking material related fires than any other? Nearly a third of all households in England include a smoker and these households are nearly 35% more likely to have a fire than non-smoking homes. In the UK between 2000 and 2005 there were on average 132 deaths per year in accidental home fires caused by smoking materials.

The Government and Fire and Rescue Service have initiated a campaign to warn people of the dangers of smoking materials. The Fire Kills 'Put it Out. Right Out' campaign will show how easily fires can start from just one cigarette and how quickly they can spread with tragic results.

Fires caused by cigarettes can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions:

• Don't leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down, land on a carpet or newspaper and start a fire. When you put it out, make sure it is really out.
• Always use a proper ashtray and make sure it can't be knocked over.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Take special care when you are tired or when you've been drinking.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on each floor level in your home.

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13. Home Safety Visits.

Home Fire Safety Visits are carried out by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service personnel to help raise fire safety standards and reduce the number of deaths and injuries that occur in the home. A visit will involve checking for any potential fire hazards, giving advice where necessary and fitting a smoke detector if applicable.

Requests can now be made online, and we are particular interested in attending the properties of 'at risk' groups, such as the elderly or single parent families. You can request a visit for yourself or on behalf of a friend or neighbour by completing our Home Safety Request Form or calling Freephone number 0800 177 7069.

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14. Fire Safety information for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Information for members of the community who are deaf or hard of hearing

Link to Fire Kills information in British Sign Language

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