Staying safe in your house or bungalow

Staying safe in your house or bungalow

This page will give you some handy hints and tips to keep you safe and well in your home if you live in a house or bungalow.

Keeping your exits clear in your house or bungalow

Try and keep hallways and entrances clear. This means it’s easier for you to get out in an emergency, as well as making it easier for emergency services who may be trying to help.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • 90 people die each year because the battery in their smoke alarm was flat or missing.
  • Over half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents.
  • More than five fires a day start by unattended candles.
  • Every three days someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette.
  • A fire can start from the crumbs in your toaster.

Smoke and heat alarms

Smoke alarms are the easiest way to keep you and your family safe in case of a fire.

  • Make checking your smoke alarm part of your regular household routine.
  • Test it by pressing the button until the alarm sounds. If it doesn’t sound, you need to replace the battery.
  • If your smoke alarm starts to beep on a regular basis, report this to our repairs team and we will arrange to replace the detector.
  • Do you have a ten-year alarm? Our contractors will look to replace these for you at the end of the ten-year period.

It is also important to note we have a combination of hard-wired and battery-operated smoke alarms in operation in our properties. If you are unsure of which one is in your home, please contact us.

How you can take extra care when you are cooking

  • When the cooker is on, don’t leave children alone in the kitchen and stay alert.
  • Keep tea towels, cloths, and any other materials away from the cooker.
  • Make sure when you finish in the kitchen, all the appliances are off.

How you can avoid a fire in your home

  1. Keep electricals away from water
  2. Don’t put anything metal in the microwave
  3. Don’t overload a plug socket
  4. Unplug any appliances, this helps reduce the risk of fire
  5. Keep candles away from soft furnishings
  6. Don’t use faulty electrical devices, for example, items with damaged casing or loose & exposed wiring
  7. If there is a fire, know your escape route
  8. Keep tea towels away from cookers and toasters

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