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News Release

Issued: 05.06.2009
At: 9am

For immediate release

Fire Safety Advice for Carers Week 2009

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) are putting their backing into Carers Week 2009. The week long celebration, which runs from 8-14 June, aims to increase the awareness of the hard work, determination and how much carers give up in order to support and aid the everyday lives of the people they care for.

LFRS would like to remind carers and those who are cared for about the importance of fire safety in domestic and residential areas. In the last year LFRS attended 543 house fires, including 28 in supported accommodation, and these could be drastically reduced if people took relatively simple steps to improve their home fire safety.

Paul Speight, Community Safety Officer, says:

“It is vital for everybody involved in caring to be aware of the importance for fire safety and make sure to provide the best protection for those who they care for.

The most important advice we at LFRS can offer is to fit and maintain smoke alarms within the property. A smoke alarm will give very early warning that a fire has started and gives vital time to vacate the property and call 999.

We also thoroughly recommend creating and practicing a fire escape plan, making sure that there are no trip hazards around the house and that electrical sockets are never overloaded. These are all relatively simple actions in relation to what can occur if they are not observed.”

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Notes to News Desk

Interviews

Paul Speight, Community Safety Officer, is available for interview on request.

Please contact Corporate Communications on the contact number below to arrange.

Contact Information

For more information please contact:

Corporate Communications

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

Tel 0116 287 2241