Friday 5 June
13.30hrs
Described as the UK’s secret service, unpaid carers in the West
will be supported by Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS)
during national Carers Week which begins on Monday.
Running from Monday 8 June to Sunday 14 June the awareness week
highlights the contribution unpaid carers make to our community. To
mark the week AF&RS will be attending a number of events in the
area to show its support to carers and reinforce the important role
they can play in improving fire safety.
Area Manager Brian McCutcheon, Head of Risk Reduction at Avon
Fire & Rescue Service said: “The work that carers do, often for
very little or no financial reward, should not be underestimated.
These people really are the heroes in our communities.
“There are more than 495,000¹ family members and friends in the
South West alone who act as carers and while this week highlights
the valuable role they play, it also gives us a chance to attend
some of the many events taking place around the area to meet carers
face-to-face. We really want to highlight the part they can play in
helping to keep the people they care for safe from fire.
“Our experience and research tells us that people who may need
carers, such as older people and those with mobility and health
issues, are at a far greater risk of having a house fire than other
groups. And the tragic truth is that these types of vulnerable
people are also more likely to suffer serious injuries or even
death if they do have a fire at home.
“For a range of reasons some people rely on their carers to take
steps like checking smoke alarms, that can dramatically reduce the
dangers they face.”
AF&RS figures show the biggest risks are in the kitchen
which result in more than half of all house fires attended by the
service every year.
Brian added: “In the past we have seen examples of people
with conditions like dementia forgetting to take pans off the
stove, which then catch fire or people with mobility issues trying
to fight relatively small fires themselves which then get out of
control.”
During Carers Week staff from AF&RS will be attending events
in Bristol, B&NES and South Gloucestershire to meet carers,
answering any concerns they have on fire safety and providing
advice and information.
Brian said: “This week is just one example of how AF&RS is
always looking for opportunities to work with agencies and groups
where our help can make a difference where it matters most.”
AF&RS’s top five tips to carers are:
- If the
person you care for cooks alone, but is often forgetful, think of
ways to help remind them they have a pan on the hob or food in the
oven. It may just be a case of using a simple kitchen timer.
- Portable
heaters can be a fire risk and should always be placed away from
furniture and loose clothes.
- Smoke
alarms give vital early warning of fire, but only if they are
properly maintained. They should be checked once a week to make
sure they are in good working order and the battery hasn’t run
out.
- Make
sure you have a well rehearsed escape route which the person you
care for could use even in the dark. If that route was blocked by
smoke or fire consider an alternative route or using a ‘safe room’
with a phone where the person you care for can call the fire and
rescue service for help.
- If the
person you care for does have a fire the best advice is not to try
and fight it – if they can, get out, stay out and call 999.
More information is also available on
www.carersweek.org
You can also find out more information by downloading
some of our fire safety leaflets from the Your Safety area
of our website.
You will find information on planning escape routes, kitchen safety, caring for your smoke alarm, heater safety and cigarette safety among the leaflets
provided.