Fire Safety – Surrey Fire & Rescue’s “Safe and Well Visits”
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service are offering a new “Safe and Well Visit.” These are particularly targeted to residents who are concerned about their fire safety or anyone who may have a friend or relative that may benefit from fire safety advice.
Do you know anyone who might be at risk from fire? This may include someone who:
- Smokes in their home
- Is over the age of 60
- Lives alone
- Has: a) limited mobility, b) a hearing impairment or c) is blind or partially sighted
- Would have difficulty responding to, or escaping from, a fire
- Has had a fire before, or shows signs of burns or scorching in the home
- Has learning disabilities
- Is supported by family, carers, and friends
- Has a mental health condition such as dementia or depression
- Has drug or alcohol dependencies
- Doesn’t have an alarm in all areas where a fire might start
- Collects or hoards in their home.
They will also install smoke detectors if required
There is no charge for this service which could help save a life. Bearing in mind the recent fire in Sutton resulting in the death of four children, this is a very worthwhile service.
Surrey has always provided this service to the public but has increased its resources and promotion following a recent review of its performance by HMICFRS (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services). The latest report was published in December. Whilst Surrey’s performance had improved since the last inspection, one of the findings was that more could be done with home fire safety checks. The average number of checks per 100,000 population in Surrey was 1.73 compared to an overall figure of 4.47 for England.
The full report can be viewed here.
Anyone who feels they may be at risk from fire is welcome to book an appointment for themselves or anyone else they feel might be at risk.
Book online here. https://customer.surreycc.gov.uk/safe-and-well-visit-request
Or else by telephone on 0800 085 0767 or by text/SMS to 07971 691 898
A fire safety expert will make an appointment to call to assess fire safety risks and make recommendations for improvements. They can advise on any aspect of fire safety including:
- Cooking and smoking
- Heaters and heating
- Candles and fireplaces
- Detection systems (smoke and heat alarms)
- Bedtime checks
- What to do if there is a fire