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Check on your neighbours this winter
LAST winter Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) launched its ‘Check on your neighbour’ campaign.
The campaign asked residents to take ten minutes out of their day to check on an elderly neighbour and carry out a few simple checks to help reduce risks of fire in their home, particularly in the winter when the risk of fire can increase. This winter, HFRS is again asking members of the community to support the campaign.
Through insight work, HFRS established the profile of people who were most at risk from having a fire in their home. The profiling showed those most at risk tended to be elderly people who lived alone, often smokers and with some type of physical or mental impairment.
Using this information, the ‘Check on your neighbour’ campaign was launched.
Daryl Oprey, Head of Safety for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Winter can be a difficult time for elderly residents as the cold weather sets in and keeping warm becomes a priority. Fire risk in the home can increase due to people smoking indoors to stay out of the cold and using open fires and electric or gas heaters become more frequent.
“There are simple quick checks residents could carry our when visiting an elderly neighbour that really could make a difference to someone’s safety this winter and I urge people to get involved.”
How you can help an elderly neighbour:
1. Offer to check your neighbours smoke alarm is working – Push the button and make sure the alarm sounds.
2. If your neighbour smokes remind them to never smoke in bed or when tired, to always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished in a proper ash tray.
3. Remind your neighbour never to leave cooking unattended and ensure the cooker is turned off before leaving the house or going to bed. Having a timer is a good reminder to turn the cooker off once finished cooking.
4. If they use a portable heater, remind your neighbour not to sit too close as fabric can catch fire. Advise them to not to leave heaters turned on over night. If your neighbour has an open fire, ensure they use a fire guard.
Daryl continued: “This time of year can be hectic as we prepare for the festivities of Christmas. We can be so busy with our own lives that we forget to look out for our neighbours. It doesn’t need to take long, but just a quick regular visit can help to ensure our elderly neighbours are safe this winter.
“Obviously, it is important to remind people to remain vigilant and only open the door to neighbours who they know and trust.” Daryl added.
For more information and advice, please call 0300 303 8242.
Visit www.humbersidefire.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter @humbersidefire
Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/humbersidefireandrescue
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Weather for Selby
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
