The coffee and lunch we went to today included a talk on fire safety in the home, and quite a lot of it was just common sense - like being careful with candles, not overloading sockets, checking your fire alarm regularly (he said once a week, but confessed he did his once a month), plus in a two story house having one on each level.
He talked about in case of fire making sure the exit routes were always kept clear and uncluttered and that locked doors could be opened easily in a panic. After a similar talk many, many years ago I've always had an exit plan for escaping from upstairs if you can't get downstairs to get out, and this was something he discussed as well. What I hadn't known (or remembered) was how important it is to close the door of the room you're escaping from and putting something across the bottom of the door - like a towel or duvet so that any smoke comes in through the top of the door. And opening a window (a transom window if you have them) so the smoke gets drawn out along the ceiling rather than filling the escape room.
He also said don't try knotting sheets together or trying to shove a mattress through the window - you'll never do it in a panic. He said your escape room should, if possible, be at the front of the house (easier for the fire service to see you) and put the light on, if it's working, and wait to be rescued. After the tragedy of Grenfell Towers, I wasn't very sure what to think about that. I'm sure I would want to try and get out. I'd rather risk say a broken leg than being overcome by smoke or flames.
Mobile phones weren't around last time I heard a fire safety talk, but he said take them into the bedroom with you at night (so you can still phone for help if the wires of your landline have been damaged), but don't put it on charge overnight in case the battery goes on fire. He also advised not running appliances like dishwashers, washing machines etc overnight or while you are out.
He mentioned things like not leaving things on the hob unattended. He asked how many of us had chip pans - nobody!
Apparently our county Fire and Rescue Service will come round to the house and give free advice, and smoke alarms if you don't have one, to over-65s. I don't know if that applies anywhere else. You can also do an online assessment yourself.
So it was interesting and useful, and we were all amused by the free smoke alarm testers - a red pole with a hand with a pointing finger to prod the button with!
He talked about in case of fire making sure the exit routes were always kept clear and uncluttered and that locked doors could be opened easily in a panic. After a similar talk many, many years ago I've always had an exit plan for escaping from upstairs if you can't get downstairs to get out, and this was something he discussed as well. What I hadn't known (or remembered) was how important it is to close the door of the room you're escaping from and putting something across the bottom of the door - like a towel or duvet so that any smoke comes in through the top of the door. And opening a window (a transom window if you have them) so the smoke gets drawn out along the ceiling rather than filling the escape room.
He also said don't try knotting sheets together or trying to shove a mattress through the window - you'll never do it in a panic. He said your escape room should, if possible, be at the front of the house (easier for the fire service to see you) and put the light on, if it's working, and wait to be rescued. After the tragedy of Grenfell Towers, I wasn't very sure what to think about that. I'm sure I would want to try and get out. I'd rather risk say a broken leg than being overcome by smoke or flames.
Mobile phones weren't around last time I heard a fire safety talk, but he said take them into the bedroom with you at night (so you can still phone for help if the wires of your landline have been damaged), but don't put it on charge overnight in case the battery goes on fire. He also advised not running appliances like dishwashers, washing machines etc overnight or while you are out.
He mentioned things like not leaving things on the hob unattended. He asked how many of us had chip pans - nobody!
Apparently our county Fire and Rescue Service will come round to the house and give free advice, and smoke alarms if you don't have one, to over-65s. I don't know if that applies anywhere else. You can also do an online assessment yourself.
So it was interesting and useful, and we were all amused by the free smoke alarm testers - a red pole with a hand with a pointing finger to prod the button with!
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