7 November 2008

Firefighters throughout Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are working with local schools in the run-up to the first ever National Schools’ Fire Safety Day on 19 November.

The event has been organised by the government’s Fire Kills campaign and The Fire Firefighters Charity to target fire safety advice to young children.

On average, 35 children under the age of 11 are killed in fires in the UK every year, and more than 1,000 are injured.

Angie Daly, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s safety education manager, said: “The importance of this day cannot be overstated – the lessons learned by pupils might one day save their lives.

“The day will offer our fire stations the opportunity to target school children and their parents or guardians to promote fire safety messages. It will also provide a good opportunity to increase the uptake of safety checks in households with children, and to build upon existing community links with local schools.”

In order to make the day stand out from other school fire safety activity, it has a specific theme – planning a safe escape from your home in the event of a fire.

Angie said: “If there’s a fire at your home there’s no time to stop and think and wonder what’s the best thing to do. The situation can change very quickly – 30 seconds after the smoke alarm goes off, an entire floor of your house could be filled with dense smoke.

“That’s why it’s so important to make a conscious effort to plan ahead – it gives you a much better chance of acting swiftly and calmly in the event of an emergency.”

An information pack for schools is available here. Schools in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who would like to become involved are invited to contact their local fire station (see telephone numbers below) for support and involvement during the week of 17 to 21 November.

Angie added: “Firefighters will do their best to fit in as many school visits as possible, although obviously they have to fit this around all their other commitments.”

The aim of the initiative is for children to learn the following messages:

• Have an escape plan - and everybody at home needs to know it
  
  
• Practise the plan – it’s fun, and helps you to stay safe
  
  
• Keep the exits to your home clear – otherwise you won’t be able to get out
  
  
• The best way out of your home is probably the way you usually go in and out
  
  
• Get out, stay out, call 999

Fire station contact numbers are:

Amersham: 01494 724964

Aylesbury: 01296 744647

Beaconsfield: 01494 675224

Bletchley: 01908 372586

Broughton: 01908 665567

Buckingham: 01280 812133

Gerrards Cross: 01753 885761

Great Holm: 01908 263374

High Wycombe: 01494 898420

Newport Pagnell: 01908 611307

Angie can be contacted on 01494 898421 and 07901 761515 or by email at adaly@bucksfire.gov.uk

Factfile 1: Making an escape plan

Angie said the first step was to involve everyone who lives in your home, especially children, older people and lodgers, in drawing up the escape plan. “Talk through it, and discuss what you are going to do – and what you are not going to do – if a fire occurs. Ideally you are going to get out, call 999 and stay out. If it’s not possible to get out straight away, it’s important to know how to stay inside as safely as possible.”

If you can’t escape you will need to find one room to take refuge in. This is particularly important if you have difficulty moving around or going down stairs on your own. It's best if the room you retreat to has a window and a phone. Shut the door, put cushions or bedding around the bottom to block the smoke, open the window and start shouting for help.

Angie said the best escape route was your normal way in and out of your home. Think of any difficulties you may have getting out, for example in the middle of the night. Choose a second route in case the first one is blocked, and keep both clear of obstructions.

“If there are older people or children in the household, plan the order you’d escape in, so that if you have to go out of a window you can help them down,” he said.

Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept, and always keep them there. Everyone in your household should know the location. If you have fire extinguishers or fire blankets, make sure all adults know where they are, and how to use them. Extinguishers and blankets should only be used on a small, easily containable fire. “The priority is to keep people safe,” said Angie. “Things can be replaced, but people can’t.”

Practise the plan by taking a few minutes to “walk through” it with everyone. Put your address by the phone so children can read it out to the emergency services and put a reminder of what to do in a fire somewhere prominent, like on the door of the fridge.

Factfile 2: What to do if there’s a fire

• Make sure everyone in your home knows about the fire. Shout and get everyone together. Don’t investigate the fire, and don’t go looking for valuables and pets.
  
  
• Get everyone out by using your escape route. Stay together if you can. Shut doors as you go out, only opening the doors you need to. Before you open a door check it with the back of your hand. If it’s warm, don’t open it – the fire is the other side.
  
  
• Crawl on the floor if there’s smoke – the air is cleaner near the floor so if there’s smoke put your nose as low as possible. Smoke is poisonous and can kill you.
  
  
• Call 999 once you’ve escaped, using a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box. Speak slowly and clearly and try to give all the information you are asked for.
  
  
• If there’s someone still inside, wait for the fire brigade to arrive. You can tell them about the person and they will be able to find them quicker than you.
  
  
• Find somewhere safe to wait. When the firefighters arrive, give them as much information as possible about the fire and the building.