Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is supporting Child Safety Week (23-29 June) which this year aims to help parents make sure their kids are kitchen clever when it comes to fire safety.
Firefighters are arming parents with the information they need to help keep them and their children safe in this area of the home.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service's head of community risk managment, Justin Johnston, said: "The kitchen is where many fires start in the home.
"It’s crucial that parents know the facts about kitchen fire safety so they can pass on valuable knowledge to the whole family. Teaching by example can reduce the chances of a devastating fire at home. Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is on hand to give advice and help keep families safe by offering free home safety visits."
The theme for Child Safety Week is 'Make a change. Make a difference', highlighting the small changes in our everyday lives that can make a big difference to children’s safety.
The week provides an opportunity for parents in Cumbria to make sure they have working smoke detectors in their homes and to teach children about the dangers of fire.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of Child Accident Prevention Trust, said: "Just a few simple changes can keep families safe from fire –fitting the smoke detector that’s been gathering dust in your kitchen drawer; changing old smoke detectors for new ones with a silencer button so you’re not tempted to take the batteries out if it goes off accidentally; and practising with children what to do if the alarm goes off for real."
Actress Angela Griffin, a mother of two young children, is also lending her support to the campaign by encouraging families to don aprons and get cooking safely together. She said: "As a mother, safety in the home is an important issue for me.
"I know how crucial it is to be aware of the dangers from fire in the kitchen. The prospect of my children having an accident is incredibly frightening but by spending time with them, and by having fun and communicating with them, I am able to teach them really valuable lessons about fire safety."
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service has issued the following tips to ensure kids stay safe in the kitchen and from fire in the home:
1. Ask the experts. Cumbrian firefighters and community safety officers can visit your home to check for any fire risks and install free working smoke detectors where required on each level of your home. Call 0800-358-4777 to request a visit.
2. Don’t remove the batteries –if your smoke alarm keeps going off accidentally while you are cooking, don’t remove the batteries. Instead move the alarm or change it for one with a silencer button.
3. Never leave cooking unattended - if you need to leave the kitchen turn electrical appliances off and take pans off the heat.
4. Make sure children know the kitchen is not a play area - never leave children alone in the kitchen when you're cooking and never let them play near the oven and hob.
5. Set clear kitchen rules for kids such as: never play with matches, never switch on the cooker, never put anything on top of the cooker and don’t touch any saucepans on the cooker.
6. Don't overload plug sockets - one plug per socket is the rule, especially if the appliance takes a lot of power (like a kettle). Be careful not to let leads trail over cookers or touch water.
7. Nominate your child to be the ‘escape champ’ –regularly role-play escape routes and give children the responsibility to keep escape routes clear.
8. Get ‘key clever’ –keys for windows and doors should always be kept in an accessible place so you can get out quickly in the event of a fire. Encourage your children to check that keys are in the correct place.
9. Discuss how to call 999 –make sure children know the number off by heart as well as their address. Always make sure that both are pinned up by the phone and explain the importance of only calling 999 in a real emergency.
10. In the event of a fire ‘Get out, Stay out and Dial 999!’ –don’t delay for valuables, don’t investigate or try to tackle the fire. Use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box to dial 999. If someone needs to be rescued wait safely outside for the firefighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Never go back in.
ENDS
Note
Fire safety resources are available by contacting Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service on freephone 0800 358 4777 or online at: http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/firekills/ (external link)
Parents can find activity check sheets to help them by visiting the Child Safety Week page on the Child Accident Prevention Trust's website http://www.capt.org.uk/ (external link). They can also obtain safety advice leaflets by sending a stamped addressed envelope (27p) to Child Safety Week Leaflets, Child Accident Prevention Trust, 22-26 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AJ, stating the age of their children in the bottom left-hand corner.
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228 226337.