You know you have got a Chronic Health Issue when your next door neighbours house goes on fire , you live in a Semi Detached and you still wonder whether you should make the effort to get out of bed.
In all seriousness , this did happen to Me this afternoon. So, my Nativity post has been suspended for today for a far more important Safety Alert for any people with Chronic Illness that affects their Mobility , I would love to help people have a Safe Christmas and Year ahead instead .
Our lovely 96 year old neighbour , "Aunty" Bessie, fell foul of the howling gales when the wind caused a ' Blowout' down her Chimney , dislodged the coals and set fire to her bedroom carpet.
The rest of the Family were out , they have no Fire Extinguishers or Blankets , and because she had already been moved downstairs for the day and is Severely Immobile the only thing that she could do was ring the Fire Brigade and get rescued
She is literally riddled with the worst Arthritis of the Feet I have ever seen , all of her toes crossed each other creating two severely bent claws which she can only bounce on to get from chair to chair. Her Family live with her but we're all out at work and have not left their Contact Numbers in a visible place for her to call. So now , as though she hasn't been through enough she is sitting here with Aunty Bee, wrapped in blankets on my sofa with a strong cup of Tea.
One bedroom Fire and Water Damaged but luckily no real damage and everyone is Safe and Alive , but you can understand why it made me stop and think.
The Fire Assessor from the Incident Engine came to the House , as is Standard, afterwards to double check the Fire Precautions that Locals have in their houses.
And I discovered some surprising facts , but also didn't let the poor Firewoman go until I had found out what was available to Us as sufferers of Chronic Health Issues that can affect our ability to escape a Fire and I got some useful , simple tips to make your home Fire Safe , not just at Christmas but all year around without causing us extra Stress or a potential Injury while following them. So below are the things that will help to keep you Safe and Well from Fire .
🔥 FIRE SAFETY EVERYDAY🔥
The Firewoman said that all people should leave their keys in all their door ( unless they can be reached via a letterbox) or hanging next to the doors at night to make sure you can exit your Home quickly in the event of a Fire. And window lock keys should be left on the ledge in each room that has one in case windows become the only escape exit.
And make sure everybody living or staying with You knows the quickest way out of your Home at night from their bedrooms .
MR. Yellow bluebell also reminded me to put this at the top of the list.
🔥 SMOKE ALARMS🔥
Make sure you have working Smoke Alarms on both floors and in Fire Vulnerable rooms , eye: Kitchens .
Shockingly the Firewoman said that new protocol is that Smoke Alarms should be checked every week , not just once a month. You , like Me , with the PMR Polywobbles shuddered at the dangerous thought of having to get up on a ladder or chair , but don't worry , you don't have too .
The Fire Service offer Detector Prodders for Free to anybody with a Disability or Mobility Issues so you can contact them and request one to do this job easily. They will check your alarms when they deliver one.
🔥HOME SAFETY CHECK : UK it's called , The Safe and Well Scheme 🔥
Get your whole Home Fire checked ( you can request them to bring your Prodders on the same visit ) by calling you Local Fire Service to do a Home Visit. If you need new Smoke Alarms they will provide them for Free.
You can get the phone number via the fireservice.co.uk website , look under Fire Safety on the list you will also find lots of different types of Fire Safety Downloads , including for Landlords and Rented Accomodation to help you.
Just putting in the name of any town into your web search engine or checking local service info may also be a little easier. Or in the UK , freephone , 0800 169 1234 , and let them know your Health issues and need for the Disability help advised in this post too. They will book you in and give you all the advice you need.
🔥Get on the LOCAL FIRE ATTENDANCE PRIORITY LIST 🔥
The Firewoman helpfully told me that anyone with an illness that can affect their mobility or thinking skills or over 65 can contact their local Fire Service in the UK and request for their address to be added on the Fire Service Attendance Priority List.
This gives the Fire Crew an alert if you call for assistance with a Fire or Fall to know that you may have difficulty with escape or getting up and they get to you much sooner. Our neighbour is on this List which is possibly why the Engine arrived before we even smelt the Fire . It also meant that far less damage was done to her property than what could have happened .
🔥 TELL THEM YOUR BURNING : Garden Waste / Bonfires🔥
Many of you may consider burning Garden Waste or having a Bonfire at this time of Year but I bet you didn't know that you can make your Local Fire Services job easier by letting them know. Your Area Fire Service will have a phone number that you should call before you have a fire to let them know you are doing it , so that if they get a Call about smoke or fire from your house from a Local Neighbour , they call you to check it is in control or if you want them to come to put it out safely when you finish burning stuff. It also saves them sending out the Van unnecessarily.
🔥Check your Gas Boilers and Electrical Devices ( especially Tumble Dryers , ovens) regularly.🔥
If you are not able to do it yourself get a more able Friend or Family member to take charge of this , empty your lint holder and wipe the oven to stop a build up of Fat or Food that can catch fire.
Some local charities and churches do actually have volunteers that will come and help you clean your ovens and hard to check electrical equipment to keep you safe.
Just ring a local group and ask you will get someone who will heed the call.
🔥WOOD BURNERS / OPEN FIRES🔥
If you have open Fires or Woodburners they need to be checked every six months and cleaned regularly . Often it is build up of soot in the Chimney that will get Santa stuck or cause a House Fire . The type of fire that will damage the structure of your House.
You need a Fire Guard and full length fire retardant rug at fires that are in near contact with carpets and other rugs.
You need a fire extinguisher and fire blanket close to hand for your House so you can quickly stop a fire before it spreads . The Fire service suggest these for the kitchen too.
🔥CHECK THOSE LIGHTS !!! Christmas Lights and Glowing Decorations 🔥
Always switch your lights off when you go out or go to bed . It may seem like a lovely thing to see the fairy lights on in your windows , it won't feel so good if you return home and find the house on fire instead.
Check Lights are of correct Safety Standards from the label on the wire or plug.
Don't use any lights with frayed cables or broken or dead bulbs.
Never overload sockets.
Do not plug lights in the same socket as computers , TVs , and Big Electrical Equipment items. Do not use those multi plug in socket adaptors but use the socket extension cables with a breaker instead.
🔥CANDLES, TEALIGHTS and LANTERNS🔥
Never leave a candle , even a tea light unprotected or unattended , even next to the bath. They may look lovely or help your Health but they are the biggest Danger of the lot .
Burn tealight candles in a proper container. Put them on a stable service in a votive jar , little glass or lamp. Candlesticks and candleabra should only be used at dinner tables and put out as soon as you leave the room. Candles falling from candlesticks or tealight near fabrics are a main cause of Modern Day Fires.
If you are going to fall to sleep you should put off your candle properly before you do
It is better to use a candle lighter , or at the least extra long safety matches to stop dropped matches from burnt fingers burning your carpet.
📲☎🚒📛🔥EMERGENCY NUMBERS🔥📛🚒☎📲
Bessie can not use a Mobile Phone , not even a big button or voice activated one. We had no numbers for her Family and she had to ring 999 as the Local Number was not written near her phone . This could have caused delays and has caused her great distress.
Please , put all your local emergency services contact numbers , and your Family or Friends contact numbers on a little sign next to your Phone or hanging in a visible place in your Hall . No matter how old you are , with Chronic Illness you may Fall or have a Medical Emergency which means you cannot tell others your details or be able to find a phone book.
Make sure everybody whom regularly visits your House knows where it is , then when Emergency Services need to be called or Call for You they can contact people without delay or having to rely on getting numbers from You.
Dont worry or get Stressed by this advice , by following just some little tips you can Stay Safe this Christmas and all Year long , without missing the warmth or cosiness of a crackling fire or candle or two
Back tomorrow with Fun folks , hugs Aunty Bee xx
The photo is of fireworks and the last burning embers if a Wicker Man at the Green Man Festival back in 2013. Look at the height of him !
