Every year we attend a large number of alcohol and drug related fires. The cause is usually people drinking alcohol and then falling asleep whilst cooking or smoking.
It only takes one act of carelessness when smoking or cooking to result in someone losing their home, their possessions or, ultimately, their life.
If you have been drinking you might not wake up when a fire takes hold, particularly if you do not have a working smoke alarm. Even when the alarm is raised and firefighters enter a home, you could have already lost consciousness and died through smoke inhalation.
Intoxication can also cause drowsiness and can make you less alert to the signs of fire. When you do discover a fire, the alcohol/drugs can heighten feelings of disorientation, making it difficult for you to escape.
Our top safety tips are:
- Don’t drink and fry/cook – you could fall asleep and cause a devastating fire
- Buy food on the way back from the pub, rather than attempting to cook when you get home
- Make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished before you go to sleep
- Ensure a working smoke alarm is installed, as this will greatly increase the chances of escaping if fire breaks out in your home
- Test your smoke alarms weekly. Working smoke alarms save lives. Join us on Facebook or Twitter to receive your weekly reminder #testittuesday
- Don’t drink so much that you cannot take care of yourself, your family or your home
- Don’t drink and drive and take care if walking home