Pull Your Finger Out!

This week I joined Parmjit Dhanda, the Fire Minister, to promote a new Government campaign launched on 15 January. The stark message is to ‘Pull Your Finger Out’ and check your smoke alarm. Checking a smoke alarm only takes minutes but the reasons given for failing to take this simple precaution are disturbing, with general apathy stopping many people from being fire safe. Although 80% of homes in England have a smoke alarm, new survey results from the Fire Kills campaign show that four in five of those polled don’t follow advice to test their alarm every week. One in three smoke alarms fails to operate in fires, mainly due to missing of non-working batteries. Not checking smoke alarms regularly puts loved ones and homes at risk.



The ‘Pull Your Finger Out’ national advertising campaign, fronted by Julie Walters, will run in England from 15 January to early March.

If you want more information, here's a five-step plan:

Step 1 - Fit a smoke alarm on each level of the property. When a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape so an early warning is vital. Make sure you replace battery operated smoke alarm units after 10 years. Alternatively consider installing a 10-year battery smoke alarm or mains powered alarm.

Step 2 - Test it weekly. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999.

Step 3 - Plan your escape route. Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.

Step 4 – Stay safe in the kitchen. This is the area where most house fires start. It only takes a minute to check electrical appliances are switched off. Also, never
leave cooking unattended.

Step 5 – Ask the experts. Fire and Rescue Services in England offer free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. Find out more at www.fire.gov.uk.

Fires in the home are thankfully rare, but we can all help to ensure that we aren’t victims of tragedy by getting a smoke alarm and checking it weekly.