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Five top tips to escape a fire safely


If there was a fire in your house tonight, would you know the best way to exit your property safely? Are your hallways and back doors clear?



Gloucestershire County Council adult social care team and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) are teaming up this dementia awareness week to encourage families to make sure they know how to safely exit their home in the event of a fire.

Below are five top tips from GFRS about to help you make sure you and your families can be prepared:

  1. Think about how you’d all get out in case of a fire, making an escape plan and practising it will help ensure that everyone can get out, stay out and call 999
  2. Fit at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home so smoke can reach the alarms quicker giving you more warning time.
  3. Test your smoke alarms monthly. Smoke alarms can save your life, but only if they work.
  4. Clear your escape routes. Make sure you’re able to escape without tripping over to ensure a speedy exit
  5. Keep your door and window keys in a known and accessible place. Make sure everyone knows where the door and window keys are kept so they can reach them easily and get out quicker in case of a fire.

GFRS also provide a dementia pack to help vulnerable people, which include stickers and magnets to remind them to keep doorways clear or turn off the cooker to reduce the risk of a fire starting.

Safe and well visits are an easy and free way to get tips and equipment to make your home safe. Fire crews can give helpful tips about staying safe and discuss the best escape routes for households as well as fitting smoke alarms for free.

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said: “Our fire crews work hard to support people be safe, in and out of the home. By knowing how you would exit your home in the event of a fire, it could save your life in an emergency.”

Cllr Kathy Williams, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “Having dementia can make it difficult to plan and rehearse escape routes. However, by making sure hallways are clear and that all safety precautions are taken can help lower the risks.”

To arrange a free safe and well visit, please visit http://www.glosfire.gov.uk/your_safety.html or phone 0800 180 41 40.

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