Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service Press Release
Don’t Drown in Toxic Smoke
Fire Kills have launched a national advertising campaign called ‘Don’t drown in Toxic Smoke’ to raise awareness of how little time you would have to escape a house fire, and the steps you can take to ensure you and your family are given those vital seconds to escape.
Did you know?
In 2007 there were 35,000 accidental house fires in England
The main reason that smoke alarms fail to activate is missing or flat batteries
19 people are injured in an accidental house fire in England every day
Cigarettes and smoking materials are the leading cause of deaths in an accidental house fire.
Most accidental house fires start in the kitchen, with 54% started by cooking
You’re more at risk from an accidental house fire if you are aged 65 and over
There are steps you can take to protect you and your family:-
Fit a smoke alarm – on each level of the property. When a fire starts, there is little time to escape so an early warning is vital. Batteries should be replaced every year and smoke alarm units should be replaced after 10 years.
Test alarms weekly - a working smoke alarm can buy valuable time to enable you to escape from a fire.
Plan your escape route – make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of a fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.
Stay safe in the kitchen – this is the area where most accidental house fires start. It only takes a few seconds to check electrical appliances are switched off. Also, never leave cooking unattended.
