Top tips for staying safe

Northumberland
Fire and Rescue Service
Top tips for staying
SAFE AND WELL
IN YOUR HOME
Making Northumberland Safer

FIRE SAFETY
BEGINS AT HOME
A fire in your home can be devastating, even fatal.
Once a fire starts it can spread rapidly putting you and
your loved ones at risk. While the dangers of fire are
very real, there is a lot you can do to protect yourself,
your family and your home.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is committed to
keeping communities safe through sharing home fire safety
strategies and information with our communities. Young
children, older people, people with a disability and smokers
are at a higher risk of being injured or not surviving a fire in
their home.
The advice in this booklet will help you learn how you can
prevent house fires and keep you and your loved ones safe.
Making your home fire safe and knowing what to do in the
event of a fire can be the difference between life and death.
Did you know? You are four times more
likely to die in a fire if you don’t have
a working smoke alarm.

Would you like home fire safety
advice, or to arrange for a Safe
and Wellbeing Visit from us?
...YES, then follow
these 3 simple steps:
1
Contact us on 01670 621 149 or
swv.nfrs@northumberland.gov.uk
2
We will arrange a
convenient time to
call, or offer advice
over the phone.
3
We will visit you at home if
necessary, to offer you home
safety and wellbeing advice.
REMEMBER:
Always ask all visitors to show
their Identity Card before letting
anyone enter your home.

SMOKE ALARMS
A smoke alarm detects fire in its early stages and
gives you a warning which can help save lives and
your home. Northumberland Fire and Rescue visit
over 7500 each year, giving advice, including how
to fit and look after your smoke alarms.
Top smoke alarm tips for a safer home:
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fit a smoke alarm on every level of
your property. Hallways and landings
are recommended.
Make sure your alarm is not faulty by
testing it monthly.
Clean your smoke alarm every
3 months. Use a vacuum or soft brush
to remove dust particles.
The ideal place for your smoke
alarms is on the ceiling.
If we have fitted a 10-year sealed
alarm for you and it begins to chirp,
please see the back of this booklet
for further support.
For mains smoke alarms, consult a
qualified electrician for maintenance.

Avoid a fall by
using a long item
like a broom
handle to gently
test your smoke
alarm!
IN THE KITCHEN
Leaving cooking unattended is a
major cause of house fires. If you
need to leave the kitchen for any
reason, like answering the door or
phone, always take the pans off heat.
HOBS/HOT PANS
✔ Keep tea towels away from
the oven or hob.
✔ Make sure pan handles don’t
hang over another hob or stick
out over the cooker top.
✔ Consider replacing chip pans
with a thermostat controlled
deep fat fryer.
✔ Never throw water over a pan of
hot oil. If the pan catches fire,
turn off heat, if safe to do so,
leave the house and call 999.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
When was the last time you used your dishwasher or washing
machine overnight? Using tumble dryers whilst asleep or out of
the house can be dangerous too, as a build-up of fluff in the filter
can cause fires. We recommend that you clean your dishwasher
filters regularly and avoid using washers/dryers overnight.
Remember to switch off appliances when not in use.
See our electrical safety tips below for a safer home:
1
2
3
4
5
Stick to one plug per socket to
avoid overloading.
Don’t run cables underneath
carpets or rugs, and check leads
regularly for wear and tear.
Never charge mobile phones
under pillows overnight.
Make sure to check old cables and
plugs for wear and tear and do not
use any with exposed wires.
Extension cables should NOT
be plugged into other extension
cables.

PORTABLE HEATERS
✔ Always keep yourself and your items at least
1 metre away from a fire or a portable heater.
✔ Secure portable heaters, especially oscillating
heaters, to prevent them falling over.
✔ Never dry clothes over portable heaters or fire guards.
SMOKING HAZARDS
✔ Ensure your cigarette is fully stubbed
out, and disposed of carefully.
✔ Use a proper ashtray, one that can’t tip
and is made of inflammable material.
✔ Don’t leave lit cigarettes lying around.
✔ Never smoke in bed.
✔ Keep smoking materials out of reach
of children.
✔ Consider child-resistant lighters/
match boxes.
Concerns about a
young person setting
fires? Ask us about the
Extinguish Programme.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
DEPARTMENT

E-CIGS AND VAPES
Don't charge your Vape/E-Cig overnight, and regularly
check on it when charging. Charge your Vape/E-Cig on a
clean, flat surface, away from anything that could easily
catch fire, and somewhere you can clearly see it.
SAFE USE OF CANDLES
Candles should always be secured in a proper holder,
including tea lights. Always put out candles when leaving
the room, especially before bedtime and never leave
children alone with lit candles.
FIREPLACE/LOG BURNERS
Use a fire guard and never dry clothes over fireplace.
If you have a log burner, always store your fuel well
away from your burner and regularly get your
chimney swept - this can prevent a build
up and a fire developing. For fuel types
and sweep frequency visit:
www.northumberland.gov.uk/Fire/Home.aspx

HOUSEKEEPING, FIRE LOADING
AND CONSUMER UNITS
1
2
3
4
Keep clutter like magazines, paper and boxes to a minimum,
as these will make a fire spread quicker.
Excess items around your exits like bikes, boxes and toys
can slow your means of escape in the event of a fire.
Check your fuse board regularly for signs of physical
damage and signs of overheating.
Never touch exposed or damaged wiring in case it is live.
If you have concerns, speak to a qualified electrician.
ALCOHOL/MEDICATION
Research suggests that across the UK more than
50% of fire fatalities within the home involve drink
or drug-related behaviour. Don’t cook when drinking
or taking drugs. Be mindful that some prescription
medication can make you drowsy too.
Your pet’s tail can easily knock over a
candle or lit cigarette, always keep lit
materials well away from your pet.

WHAT’S YOUR ESCAPE PLAN?
✔ Plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows
how to escape.
✔ Make sure exits are kept clear.
✔ Make sure everyone in the property has quick access
to keys for windows/doors.
✔ The best route is the normal way in/out of your home.
✔ Think of a second route in case the first one is blocked.
✔ Review your plan if the layout of your home changes.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ESCAPE
IS BLOCKED
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2
3
4
5
If you can’t get out, get everyone into one room, ideally
with a window and a phone.
Put bedding around the bottom of the door to block
out the smoke.
Call 999 then open the window and shout “HELP FIRE”.
If you can’t open the window break the glass in
the bottom corner. Make jagged edges safe with
a towel or blanket.
Use soft bedding (Not a mattress) to cushion your fall
and lower yourself down carefully. Don’t jump.
GET OUT, STAY OUT, CALL 999.

Cut me out and stick me somewhere visible
YOUR HANDY
NIGHT-TIME CHECKLIST
Close all internal doors at night as this
will stop a fire from spreading as quickly.
Make sure exits are clear from obstacles and
keys for windows and doors are kept
where everyone can find them.
Turn off and unplug appliances unless
they are designed to be left on.
Check your cooker is turned off.
Do not leave washing machines,
dishwashers, or tumble dryers on.
Turn off heaters.
Make sure cigarettes and candles
are extinguished properly.

Batch Number
Replace by end:
FURTHER SUPPORT
If we have visited your property and fitted a 10-year sealed smoke alarm,
please refer to the instruction manual we left for you for guidance. If your
alarm develops a fault follow these steps.
1
Temporarily remove alarm from ceiling
Rotate the alarm anti-clockwise to remove it
from the backplate fixed to the ceiling.
Batch Number:
Replace by end:
2
Find information on the back of the alarm
Make a note of the ‘batch number’ and ‘replace
by date’ on reverse. Then re-attach the alarm to
the ceiling backplate by twisting it clockwise.
3 Contact the manufacturer
Call the freephone number on your instruction manual
for support, describe the fault and provide the information
from step 2. If you prefer, you can email the manufacturer
or visit their website.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
West Hartford Business Park
Cramlington NE23 3JP
Tel 01670 621149
www.northumberland.gov.uk/fire
@NlandFRS