Keeping elderly and vulnerable residents safe

If you or anyone you know has difficulty hearing, seeing or moving about, you need to take extra care when dealing with fire risks.

Remember, we can provide a free home fire safety check for those who are most vulnerable in our community, which includes the elderly and those who are disabled.

How can you help to prevent accidents?

If you have an elderly relative, friend or neighbour who you think might be vulnerable to fire hazards or burning or scalding themselves, help them to stay safe by encouraging them to take the following precautions:

• If they smoke, warn them about the dangers of smoking in bed and encourage them to smoke outside.
• A fireguard should be fitted.
• If they use electric blankets - make sure they are using them correctly and they are checked regularly. When cooking suggest they use the rear hot plates/hobs on a cooker and that they turn the pan handles away from the front of the cooker.
• Ensure that hot water bottles they use are of good quality and do not show signs of wear.
• Kettles shouldn't be overfilled as boiling water could spill and scald.
• As a safety precaution, they should use coiled kettle flexes or a cordless kettles which are either sprout-filling or jug shaped.
• Tea and coffee making facilities shouldn't be too far from the living area so hot liquids don't have to be carried far.
• Propose they fit a thermostatic mixing valve which regulates bath water outlet temperature and reduces the risk of severe scalding.

Most importantly, advise them to book them a home fire safety check so smoke alarms can be fitted if necessary and also any other potential fire hazards can be spotted.