Personal Safety

We had a review of our house by our local Fire Service when we moved here in 2012 and the best bit of advice was to make sure we had keys adjacent to but not visible from outside the front and back doors. We thought we were security conscious and had always removed them away from the doors at night. They pointed out that if we needed to get out in a hurry we may collapse from smoke before we managed to retrieve the keys from their hiding place. So now we have a door key on a hook, not visible to anyone on the outside but at hand in case we need to open up quickly.

They also fitted two smoke alarms, one in the hall and one on the landing, free of charge.

Alea, I asked for the fire crew to visit my parents to review safety at their home. Dad smoked a pipe and often fell asleep in bed when doing so. He had a bedroom downstairs because by that time, he was too frail to go upstairs. Mum had lost hearing and sight and slept upstairs. You can imagine our anxieties.
The fire crew arrived in their red engine. Initially dad was mortified on a 'what will the neighbours think' level. He'd been in a similar disciplined, uniformed service and within minutes the two lovely fire crew were drawing war stories out of him. They were so helpful, fitted fire alarms and gave excellent advice.

When working with vulnerable children, we often arranged visits to our local fire station. The crews were universally brilliant with the children, allowed them to clamber over the fire engine, and rattle the bell. Great workforce frankly.

Two firemen turned up on my doorstep one day and asked me if I wanted a smoke alarm. I already had one which they replaced and gave me one on the landing as well. If I have a shower with the bathroom door open - I live alone - the steam triggers the alarm.

Your'e all cougars!?

Alea, I must say that Dan from the Rhondda was a particularly nice young man!

I've now seen that their Safe and Well service is publicised on West Midlands buses with the strap line Tackling Much More Than Fires. What a great idea.

He'd need to be chunky to give me a fireman' s lift.

Love a chunky hunk

Chunky or hunky? ?

We were offered a visit from the Fire Service after our flu jabs a couple of years ago.
They actually came in a fire engine, I wish the DGSs had been here, they would have been thrilled! A few of my ex-colleagues were quite jealous when I told them we were having a visit from two chunky firefighters
(One was in his 50's at least!!)

In the West Midlands they advertise their website on posters in buses with the wording
Safe and Well Checks
Tackling Much More Than Fires

We have smoke alarms which are so sensitive we never have to test them! Had to remove one from outside a bathroom as every time someone had a shower it went off because of the steam!

DS1 has a wired in one which goes off too easily so he has switched it off. We suggested he get a separate one and keep in his bedroom.

We have wired in heat detectors, which sense significant changes in temperature in the kitchen and where the log burner is, that can happen before the actual fire.

x

I knew about this service. Shortly after moving to this house we had a chimney fire which the fire brigade attended. They fitted new smoke detectors with ten year batteries, and gave us a safety assessment. I agree that it should be better advertised, particularly to our age group. I found it very useful and informative.

It's a very good service but not advertised here in Wiltshire either; I refer a number of my clients to them, and it's free!
We also have a Bobbyvan service run by the Police who do security checks free of charge.