TAKE A LIFE- SAVING STEP TO PROTECT YOUR OLDER FRIENDS AND RELATIVES

As anyone who has elderly friends, neighbours or relatives will know, a quick visit for a cup of tea and a catch- up can often make the world of difference to older people living on their own.

And while many of the older generation are just hitting their prime, for some the little everyday things that used to take seconds can become harder as the years go by.

Testing their smoke alarm can often be among these – its position usually makes it harder to reach and changing the batteries becomes a tricky operation.

That’s why the Fire Kills campaign is asking people to take a life- saving step to test their smoke alarms the next time they see an older neighbour, friend or family member. A working smoke alarm can give you and your loved ones the extra time you need in a fire to get out, stay out and call 999.

And those less able to move quickly, especially the older generation, will need those vital seconds more than most.

Last year in England, half of all deaths caused by accidental household fires were people aged 65 and over.

But despite these worrying statistics, surveys show that the vast majority of older people don’t consider fire a risk, and most think that they would be able to get out of their home in time. In fact, you have less than two minutes to escape in a fire before the air becomes unbreathable and you’re rendered unconscious, so an early warning is vital to make a safe escape.

Many older people who live alone, have difficulty moving or are simply a little forgetful are sometimes unable to test their own smoke alarms and might not be able to do so often enough. So by offering to test for them, you could give an older friend or relative the vital early warning they need if the worst should happen.

The Fire Kills campaign has offered some simple steps to take this winter to keep your older friends and relatives fire safe:

• Check they have smoke alarms at every level in

their home and near potential fire risks.

• Test their smoke alarms whenever you visit to help give them the vital extra seconds they need to escape in a fire

• Look for electrical risks such as frayed wires and overloaded plugs to help reduce the risk in their home.

• Unplug appliances such as heaters and electric

blankets when they’re not in use.

• If you are a carer, make sure you close household

doors at night

A huge variety of specialist safety equipment

is also available to help give vulnerable people

the best chance of escape in a fire. These include

vibrating smoke alarms for the hard of hearing,

easy- reach smoke alarm testers for those with

limited movement and linked alarm systems –

just a few options to help people feel safer.

A quick and simple step can provide the extra

peace of mind of knowing that the people you

care about will get the warning they need to

escape in a fire. So next time you see your older

family and neighbours, take a second to test their

smoke alarms – it could be a life- saving move.