Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 04/03/2010 12:26

Smokers are being urged to quit their habit or realise its danger, as statistics reveal that cigarettes and smoking products are the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home.[1]

Despite this shocking wake-up call, less than half (40%) of smokers are aware that smoking is the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires.[2]

David Carlisle from Cornwall Fire and Service Rescue said: “It may be shocking for smokers to hear that in the years from 2005-2008, 67% of all smoking related fires attended were in people’s own homes, with 87% of these being in the bedroom or lounge. What is more worrying is that 60% of these homes did not have working smoke alarms. The message is clear, smoking in your home is dangerous, so why not quit? If you have to smoke, make sure you extinguish cigarettes, cigars and pipes completely before leaving the house or going to bed.”

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service are encouraging smokers to cut out dangerous habits such as smoking in bed and to make sure they properly extinguish their cigarettes. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is also encouraging people to install smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them weekly.

A smoke alarm that works means you are more than twice as likely to survive an accidental house fire.[3]

Dave Carlisle, Community Safety Manager at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service says: “Without a working smoke alarm you lose valuable escape time in a fire. Just two to three breaths of the toxic smoke in a fire can render you unconscious - it affects your ability to breathe, just like drowning.”

“People need to be aware of the risks of smoking in the home and how smoking materials can very easily lead to fires. When extinguishing cigarettes, smokers must make sure they ‘put it out, right out’.”

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service are working in partnership with the Cornwall & Isles Scilly Stop Smoking Service by hosting stop smoking sessions at Falmouth and Penzance Community Fire Stations.

Lynda Quee, co-coordinator of the Cornwall & Isles Scilly Stop Smoking Service, says: “Seventy per cent of smokers want to stop, but only around seven per cent of quitters use the most effective way of stopping- The Stop Smoking Service. Using the Stop Smoking Service and stop smoking medication you are up to 4 times more likely to successfully quit. We have over 120 trained advisors across the county in various settings including surgeries, pharmacies, children centre, pubs and Fire Stations. We offer free group, drop-in or one to one help and support, and if required, medication on prescription.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for stronger communities Lance Kennedy said: “Initiatives which give Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service the opportunity to work with partner organisations to not only highlight fire safety issues, but also to encourage healthy living are very welcome. We all need to work together to help and encourage people to give up smoking but also to make sure that those having difficulty in kicking the habit keep themselves and their families safe from fire.”

For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home:

Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished
Fit smoke alarm and test it weekly - a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999
Never smoke in bed, take care when you’re tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning!
Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down
Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn.
Close all inside doors at night - closed doors help to reduce the spread of fire, giving you more time to escape.

Ask the experts - Fire and rescue services in England offer free Home Fire Risk Checks to identify potential fire risks and offer tailored fire safety advice. They may even install smoke alarms free of charge.

For further information on fire safety visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills

For further information Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire.

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7281