Safe as houses Print E-mail
Fire and burglary are the two biggest threats to our home safety, but there are measures you can take to prevent them, says Sheila Purcell. As the nights draw in, it makes sense to check that your home is secure. It takes only minutes for a fire to take hold or for burglars to ransack your most treasured possessions. But just a few simple and inexpensive precautions can drastically reduce these risks.

Fire, fire

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Accidents in the kitchen account for more than half of house fires.
Close on 300 people die each year in accidental house fires in England and 9,000 suffer injuries. So: 

  • Fit smoke alarms on each level of the property - you are twice as likely to die in a fire at home without one. Test them once a week, keep them dust-free and change the batteries every year.
  • Take extra care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for more than half of house fires. Consider changing your chip pan for a thermostatically-controlled deep fat fryer and buying a fire blanket to meet British Standard BS EN 1869.
  • Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out and disposed of carefully. Never smoke in bed.
  • Never leave lit candles unattended and make sure they are well away from materials that might burn.
  • Ensure that all open fires are fully extinguished at night and close doors before you go to bed.
  • Don't overload electrical sockets.
  • Keep matches and lighters where children can't see or reach for them.
  • Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby - switch them off and unplug at night. And don't leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher on at night or when you go out - they could overheat.
  • Have an escape route that everyone in the household knows and keep the exits clear - it can mean the difference between life and death.

If a fire starts 

  • Alert everyone and get them out of the house. Don't investigate the fire or stop to collect valuables. Call 999 only when you are safely away from the building.
  • Before you open a door on your escape route, check whether it feels warm. If it is, the fire is probably on the other side.
  • If the house if full of smoke, crawl along the passageways where the air should be clearer.
If your route is blocked
  • Get everyone into one room with a window that opens. Shut the door and put cushions and bedding at the bottom to seal off the smoke. Open the window and call for help.
  • Only attempt a first floor exit if you are in immediate danger. Then throw bedding and cushions on to the ground and lower yourself by your arms from a window ledge before dropping. Never jump.

Beat the burglar

Most break-ins are carried out by opportunist thieves. In two out of 10 cases they don't even need to use force but simply walk in through an open door or window. A third gain entry through a window and two-thirds via door. 

  • Fix strong locks to doors and windows. If you are replacing then, buy those certified to British Standard BS7950: 1997 (windows) or PAS 24-1 (doors).
  • Fix mortise locks (kitemarked BS3621) to all front and back doors and locks to all downstairs windows or those that are easy to reach.
  • Remember that even skylights or bathroom fanlights need locks - burglars can get through any gap larger than a human head.
  • Keep house and car keys out of sight of doors and windows.

And remember 

  • Consider fitting a burglar alarm and make sure it is correctly installed.
  • Never hang a spare key inside the letterbox or hide it places such as a flowerpot or under a brick - thieves know all the favourite spots.
  • Secure garages and garden sheds with strong locks.
  • Opt for a low-energy dusk-to-dawn outside light that comes on when it's dark. Use time switches to turn on lights, radios and other appliances when you're out at night.
  • A thorny hedge (too prickly), a gravel path (too noisy) and trellis at the top of fences (hard to climb) all help deter intruders.
  • Be a good neighbour - call the police if you see anyone acting suspiciously nearby and join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
  • If you get home and see signs of a break-in, don't go in or shout - the burglar could still be inside. Call the police.

Top tips from Steve Lloyd of security and fire detection specialsts ADT include fitting a burglar alarm. "That little box on the front wall alone is a big deterrent," he says. "Think about enclosed areas where someone could get in without being seen and make sure there are lights on at night. Keep valuables away from windows - a handbag left on a kitchen or hall table is an easy item to snatch in a smash-and-grab."

Hillmorton and Paddox Women's Institute are working in partnership with the SNT Rugby Town East by developing a ring-round system called ALERT. This will be operated to alert members to, for example, distraction burglars in the area or any threatening or antisocial behaviour requiring professional intervention. With the support of the local community police team, President Christine Bunyard has compiled a telephone link system that takes in all 70+ members with each member having to make just one telephone call. The last person on the list rings Chris to show that each member was contacted.

The system was recently tested when a spate of thefts from garden sheds was reported. Several unexpected advantages came to light: members looked in more depth at their own security arrangements and it served as a two-way information exchange between the public and the police. For members living alone, it gives reassurance that someone is watching out for them - and of course non-WI members also benefit.

Further information

Pull Quotes

  • Don't leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher on at night or when you go out.
  • "That little alarm box on the front wall alone is a big deterrent"
 
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