Winter safety tips
Like all fire and rescue services, we’re
always busy in the winter as the cold weather brings with it a new
set of dangers.
This is sometimes because of things people do as a reaction to
the change in temperature – human behaviour. It’s also because of
other issues that can’t be changed, like the weather.
By thinking about the following questions, you can keep yourself
and those you care about safer over the winter months...
In the home
Do you have a smoke alarm on every level of your house?
Get more information about keeping your home, family and friends
safe at www.3breaths.info.
It’s party season for many people, which means having friends
and family over for food and drinks. But did you know a third of
people who die in house fires have alcohol in their bodies, and the
majority of house fires start in the kitchen? Drinking and cooking
can be a lethal combination - see what can happen when things go
wrong by watching our video at www.standbyyourpan.com
Storage heaters are a common cause of accidental domestic fires,
often because they are used to dry clothes, which is extremely
dangerous. Have you read the instructions for yours?
Do you have a ‘real’ fire which burns wood or coal? A chimney
fire can destroy a building, because of the furnace-like
temperatures which quickly build. When did you last have your
chimney swept?
On the road
In really bad weather, it’s better to avoid driving whenever
possible. How many of your weekly journeys are essential? Could you
find alternative ways of getting around?
The weather has a huge effect on the number of crashes we are
called to, as medical crews need us to cut people free from the
wreckage. Is your car ready for the winter? How will you change
your driving?
Outdoors
Just as drivers spend much of their time avoiding the ice,
younger people can be attracted to it for exactly this reason and
are often tempted to play about on frozen rivers, lakes and ponds.
We have specialist training to rescue people who make this mistake,
but usually it will be too late by the time we reach them. Do you
and your family understand the risks?