SMOKING
Every year the Fire Services attend 500 fatal household fires in
Britain. Nearly
4 in 10 of these deaths resulted from careless use of smoking
materials.
Cigarettes, Pipes and Cigars
A cigar, cigarette or pipe left burning on the edge of an ashtray can
easily fall
onto or into furniture, newspapers or fabrics and can smoulder unseen
for a
considerable time before starting a serious fire.
Check to make sure that smoking materials are never left to burn
unattended.
Make sure that they are properly stubbed out in a suitable ashtray
before
leaving the room and disposed of safely in a suitable container before
retiring
to bed.
Check that people never smoke in bed or in an armchair when feeling
drowsy.
This is especially important when you or your family are under the
influence of
alcohol or drugs (prescribed or otherwise) as a large proportion of
fatal fire
victims are known to have been drinking prior to their death.
Matches and Lighters
Fires are often caused by children playing with matches and lighters
that have
been left lying around the house. These fires cause many of the child
fatalities
each year.
Check
that they
are not left lying around. It would only need a child to be
left
on their own for a few minutes with a lighter or a box of matches for
a serious
fire to occur.
Check
that disposable
lighters are only put into use one at a time. Extra
lighters should be locked away until required.
Check
that matches are always
properly extinguished before disposing of
them.
Check
that lighters comply with the current
British standards BS EN ISO
9994: 1996.
Check
that, where possible, lighters
are child resistant and matches are kept
in child resistant containers.
Do you know where your matches and lighters are right now?
If you require further information contact Highlands and Islands Fire
and Rescue Service.
No Smoke Without Fire - it's your choice.
