The most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries is to reduce the number of incidents that happen in the first place.
The Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Prevention Team sets out to achieve these goals through a system of proactive education, involving a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting an environment safe from fires, road traffic collisions and other emergencies.
This proactive education is delivered by operational personnel and a dedicated team of Prevention Practitioners, either in people's homes whilst carrying out safer home visits and by talking to members of the public through our attendance at public events or through our work with partnership organisations.
At home or outdoors, your family is potentially at risk, not just from fire, but other hazards too. The safety of your family should always come first and by following some simple advice, you can protect them.
Children and Fire Safety
Over 500 children are injured and 11 killed in fires in the home in England every year.
Fires account for nearly half of all accidental child deaths.
6,000 fires a year are caused by children under the age of 10.
Some Safety Advice
Matches, Lighters and Candles
- Remember to keep things that can cause fires out of children's reach
- Position lighted candles and tea lights out of reach of children
Electrics and Heaters
- Teach children not to poke anything, including fingers, into sockets
- Consider getting plug guards to cover sockets
- Make sure electrical appliances (TVs and computers) in children's bedrooms are switched off at night
- Fit a child-proof guard in front of open fires or heaters - the best ones can be fixed to the wall
- Make sure children don't play near fires or heaters to avoid them getting burnt
- As kitchens can be dangerous places for children, avoid leaving them unsupervised
- Avoid using the front of the hob when small children are around
- Make sure that saucepan handles don't stick out to avoid them being knocked off
Share these safety messages with your children so they know what to do in the event of a fire. Tell them:
- If they spot a fire to tell a grown-up straight away
- Get out of the building as quickly as you can if there is a fire (if there's smoke, crawl along the floor - the air will be clearer down there)
- Don't go back for anything; even toys or pets
- Find a phone (you might need to go to the neighbours to find one)
- Call 999 - ask for the fire and rescue service and tell them your address (you might want to practise making this call with children and will need to make sure they know their address)
- Only call 999 in a real emergency
- Go into a room with a window if the way out is blocked. Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in. Open the window and call "HELP FIRE"
- If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL
Keep door and window keys where child minders and baby sitters can see them
Plan an escape route
- Practise the escape plan together with children
- Be careful to keep all exits clear
- Think about how you would get out if your escape route is blocked
Blue Watch: The sign of a safer property
Blue Watch is a home safety scheme, supported by UK Fire and Rescue Services, for tenants, homeowners and landlords. The Blue Watch logo is a sign of a safer property. Displaying it states that a trusted fire safety expert has validated a property or product.
Blue Watch: The sign of a safer property
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What is in the section
Become a Community Fire Volunteer in Suffolk
This section provides information on our work with young people; advice on keeping you safe when you are at home, on the road and out and about
Is your home safe from fire?