It is estimated that Fire Rescue services in Staffordshire will attend about 37 smoking related house fires each year, costing the county £5.4M. Fatalities are disproportionally high in smoking related fires, careless disposal of cigarettes is the single biggest killer in house fires and totally avoidable.
Here is the best advice on how to avoid a house fire:
- Quit smoking –. It is proven that people are three times more likely to be successful in quitting if they have support, this can be as little as 15 minutes, but we are providing much more. Here at Everyone Health Staffordshire, we can provide you with 12 weeks of practitioner support to help you quit We also can give advice on the best nicotine replacement therapy products. If you are over the age of 50, or pregnant or registered with 20 particular GP surgeries, you are eligible for our service. So check out the website or take the online assessment to get started. You can also call: 0333 005 0095.
- Put it out, right out! – Fully extinguish any cigarette and never leave a lit cigarette unattended.
- Take extra care when tired – If you are tired, have been taking any drugs or been drinking, it is very easy to fall asleep whilst your cigarette is still burning. Try to avoid smoking in these situations and always be wary.
- Never smoke in bed – It is best to avoid smoking in your bed to avoid falling asleep with a lit cigarette.
- Use a proper, heavy ashtray – Use an ashtray that won’t tip over and is made of materials that won’t burn. Don’t let the cigarette ends build up in the ashtray. A drop of water in the ashtray will help to make it safe, then leave it to cool down fully
- Never leave a cigarette unattended – You are literally playing with fire. If you leave your cigarette unattended, it could easily start a fire without you noticing, the longer the fire goes unnoticed, the more likely you are to die.
- Never use a bin or a waste basket containing other rubbish as an ashtray – The content of rubbish bins is usually flammable.
- Do not leave cigarettes in the reach of children – cigarettes are dangerous for children, with the potential to burn themselves, the house and, also, the harmful toxins in the smoke itself, it is best not to smoke around children at all
- Test your smoke alarm regularly – It is recommended that you test your fire alarm weekly, the sooner you know about the fire the sooner you can take action to protect yourself and your family.
You can find out more about house fires at the Staffordshire Fire and Recuse Service website.
If you are interested in quitting smoking, get in contact with us today taking the online assessment or by calling: 0333 005 0095.