East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has become the first UK fire & rescue service to place safety messages onto prescription bags.

The campaign has been launched across East Sussex with a total of 25,000 branded bags distributed to 25 independent pharmacies.

One of the challenges that faces the fire and rescue service is identifying and locating the more at risk within the community. For some of these people, mobility is difficult and it is important to find new and dynamic ways of communicating fire safety messages effectively.

Chris Pascoe, Head of Community Safety, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: "In partnership with Bag Media and pharmacies across East Sussex, this campaign has been designed as an extra way of targeting the harder to reach and more vulnerable people within the county. Certain individuals from these groups are likely to be receiving medication of some form and by placing messages on the prescription bags we will are advising those people of the free smoke alarm service that East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service provides."

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service hopes that the message also catches the attention of carers who collect prescriptions on behalf of those who are less mobile. The Service would like to encourage those carers to consider not just their own safety precautions, but also those of the friends, family and colleagues that they assist.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offer free Home Safety Visits to help keep your family safe throughout the year. If you would like to arrange a visit, call free on 0800 177 7069 or use our online booking service.