Despite decades of fire safety education highlighting their importance, a recent report by the Local Government Association (LGA) estimates that more than 2 million homes in England alone still do not have a working smoke alarm.
The stark warning has been issued during the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Home Safety Week as part of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service’s home fire safety advice.
NFCC Home Safety Week is held every Autumn, and this year the focus of the campaign is around installing alarms and improving standards of detection in the home, to reduce the number of casualties and fatalities.
Group Manager for Community Safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, John Amos said:
“We cannot stress enough how vital having adequate smoke detection in the home is and the difference it can make if a fire occurs.
“Smoke alarms provide an early warning of incidents and provide precious time to escape.
“Adequate working smoke detection should be fitted on every level of your home and in the rooms used most often, as this is where a fire is most likely to start.
“Regular testing is essential – check all alarms ideally once a week but at least once a month. Batteries should also be changed regularly.”
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