This week marks Fire Safety Week in Ireland, where on average 25 people die in fires each year.
The most common house fires are often caused by plugged-in electrical appliances, candles, and burning cigarettes.
The “Routine Fire Safety Check” developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management lays out a three-minute guide to ensuring you and your family are safe each night, and that your home is secure every time you leave.
The first piece of advice is to always look for obvious dangers, such as numerous electrical appliances plugged into one wall, burning candles, or open living room fires.
You should walk around your house every night and ensure to:
- Unplug all unnecessary electrical appliances.
- Turn off all unnecessary gas appliances.
- Make sure all candles and naked flames are extinguished.
- Place a sparkguard in front of any open fire.
- Empty all ashtrays
- Are all escape routes completely clear of obstructions?
- Close all doors to reduce the spread of fire and smoke
It is also recommended that every home is fitted with working smoke alarms and that they are tested regularly.
If there is a fire, you need to have an escape plan in place, while the experts say;
- Keep your ways out/exits clear at all times
- Whether you discover the fire or your smoke alarm warns you, stay calm and put your fire escape plan into action
- Raise the alarm. Wake everyone up and get everyone out in the quickest way, assisting or collecting the very young or vulnerable in the household
- Check doors with the back of your hand – don’t open them if they are warm. This means the
- fire is on the other side. Only open the doors that you need to get out of the house
- If there is smoke, crawl along near to the floor where the air will be cleaner
- Do not look for the cause of the fire
- Meet at an assembly point outside your home and make sure everyone is out
- Call the Fire Service at 999 or 112 from a call box, mobile phone or neighbour's house
- Do not go back in until the Fire Service tells you it is safe
