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General News

Fire service issues Black Friday fake goods warning

Posted on by Alex Mills

Fire officers are issuing Black Friday safety tips to shoppers, to stop them getting duped by dodgy goods online.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) is pointing to figures from Electrical Safety First, which show more than one million people bought fake goods in the UK last year.

The majority of those goods were bought online, with shoppers regularly misled by images stolen from official sites, fake safety marks or near to authentic pricing.

Counterfeit electrical products are particularly risky as they often contain faulty parts that can overheat and catch fire or deliver a fatal electric shock.

SYFR Area Manager Steve Helps, said: “Thousands of people will be using tempting black Friday deals to hunt for a tech bargain online, but we know that these often pose a serious risk of fire. Fake goods aren’t always easy to spot, but it’s well worth taking the time to consider the authenticity of a purchase.

“Electrical equipment causes a third of all the house fires we attend and in the UK last year electrical fires killed 50 people and injured 3,000 more.”

How to spot fake electrical products online

  1. If the price is (almost) right, it’s probably fake
    Some counterfeits are for sale just below the recommended retail value, hoodwinking shoppers that are too savvy to fall for the ‘too good to be true’ deals. Make sure you do your homework if you decide to buy products below high street retail prices.
  2. Don’t just take the seller’s word for it – or the reviewers
    Beware of a product with solely glowing reviews, especially if the reviewers aren’t verified. Some sites cross-reference user reviews with their buyer database and label those people as “verified purchasers”.
  3. Know where you’re buying from
    Make sure you know where the supplier is based, a ‘co.uk’ URL doesn’t guarantee the website is UK based. If there is no address supplied, or there is just a PO Box, be wary; many counterfeit electrical goods are manufactured overseas, where they will not be safety tested and are produced as quickly and cheaply as possible.
  4. Beware of words qualifying an item’s authenticity
    If the seller claims the product is ‘genuine’, ‘real’ or ‘authentic’ double check the source. Most reputable retailers don’t need to sell their products like this.
  5. Spot the lock to pay safely
    Look for websites that allow you to pay safely – these have a padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen when you are filling in your payment details. If you can’t see it, do not enter your payment details.

For more home fire safety advice visit www.syfire.gov.uk/safety-advice

Charity launches road safety push for people with learning difficulties and autism

Posted on by Alex Mills

A Rotherham based charity is working with the fire service to keep people with learning disabilities and autism safe on the roads.

Speakup Self Advocacy is using Road Safety Week (23 to 29 November) to kickstart its work to support people being safe on their bikes and when out walking during the darker, winter months.

Speakup’s two year initiative will create online films, Easyread books and training to help people with learning disabilities and autism be safer when out and about, including on the bus, train, tram and in a taxi.

It’s all part of a project funded through South Yorkshire Fire Authority’s Safer Stronger Communities Reserve fund. The funding, now in its second year, is the only fire service backed grant scheme of its kind anywhere in the country.

Speakup has been working with Government departments and national organisations for 28 years to develop information and training, which is suitable for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Speakup’s Geoff Doncaster, said: “People with learning disabilities and autism often miss out on road safety information as they struggle with printed text and find it hard to understand the other information which we all take for granted. It is hoped that by making accessible information on film and through Easyread books, people can be safer when out and about.”

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Lesley Hayhurst, said: “There’s a definite gap currently in the quality of information public services offer to people with autism and learning difficulties. By working with an organisation which specializes in delivering education and information to these vulnerable groups, this project gives us a real opportunity to change that, particularly in regards to road safety.”

The first film is now available on Speakup’s website

Fire service recognised for reservists support

Posted on by Alex Mills

The fire service was one of three Sheffield organisations to be recognised as being among the country’s leading employers for their support of the Reserve Forces, having been honoured at a special awards ceremony last week as part of the government’s Employer Recognition Scheme.

Receiving a certificate signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and Chesterfield Special Cylinders received the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) award. The three organisations were among only 14 from across the Yorkshire region, out of 500 candidates, which have been successful in winning the award.

SYFR Area Manager Steve Helps, said: “Reservists are an integral part of the UK Armed Forces and are trained to a high standard. It’s right that as an organisation we support reservists with their training and deployment and it’s pleasing that we have been picked out in our region as leading the way in this respect.”

The launch of the Employer Recognition Scheme was a commitment made in the July 2013 White Paper entitled ‘Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued’, and takes into account the views of a wide range of companies and industry bodies who championed the value in publicly recognising employers supportive to Reservists.

Reservists in the Yorkshire and Humber areas serve in the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines, the Army Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and can be mobilised wherever needed to work alongside Britain’s regular Armed Forces. Reservists are an integral part of the UK Armed Forces and are trained to a high standard.

Boxing club wins fire service funding

Posted on by Jayne Sanderson

Youngsters in the Manor area of Sheffield are fighting fit thanks to fire service funding for their local boxing club.

De Hood boxing club has been awarded funding for equipment and a boxing ring, which will enable the club to expand and take on more young members.

The boxing club began in 2013 with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in the area and to give the youngsters a purpose. Within only a few weeks of opening the antisocial behaviour figures had been halved.

With 100 current members, the club is wanting to expand and to increase its numbers to 150.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are to hold regular fire and road safety sessions for the youngsters at the club and will be seen as a role model by many of them.

The project won £7,700 which will provide this well needed equipment which De Hood needs to progress.

The funding comes from the South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority’s funding scheme, the Stronger Safer Communities Reserve.

The fund saw dozens of registered charities, community organisations and partner agencies come forward and apply for grants from the £2 million fund, which had been set aside from the Authority’s reserves.

Station Manager Steve Wood, at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said, “This new and exciting project will give the young people on the Manor an opportunity to let off steam in this very popular sport. We look forward to visiting the club and offering advice and encouragement, which in turn will benefit the whole community and help to reduce antisocial behaviour in the area.”

De Hood Boxing Club organiser Mark Wilkinson said, “We are really pleased that our project has won this funding. Our aim is to become one of the main community hubs for children and young people in the Manor area of Sheffield. The project will work in partnership with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and South Yorkshire Police to bring down antisocial behaviour, and for the youngsters something to be proud of in their local community.”

Smoking still a main cause of accidental fires

Posted on by Jayne Sanderson

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is highlighting the dangers of smoking, after recent figures show these are still a main cause of accidental dwelling fires.

Smoking related fires have remained at a similar level for the past few years. While accidental house fires are reducing, fires caused from cigarettes or other smoking materials still amount to around 60 incidents per year, the same as six years ago.

Firefighters are appealing to smokers to take extra care and to keep the risk of fire low, by following some basic fire safety advice:

• Never smoke in bed – it’s very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to your bedclothes or furnishings
• Don’t smoke if you’re drowsy – especially if you’re sitting in a comfortable chair or if you’ve been drinking or taking prescription drugs. Again, it’s easy to fall asleep
• Don’t leave a lighted cigarette, pipe or cigar unattended – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material
• Make totally sure that your butts aren’t still smouldering – wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
• Keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children – you can also buy child-resistant lighters and containers for matches

Trevor Bernard, Head of Community Safety at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: “Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of accidental house fires, but nearly all of these can be avoided by following some basic some simple rules. For example, never smoke in bed, never leave a lit cigarette unattended, always ensure that cigarettes are put out properly and keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.”

For more information on ways to help you stop smoking visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree.

Smoking related accidental fires for South Yorkshire:

2009/10 – 71
2010/11 – 62
2011/12 – 65
2012/13 – 40
2013/14 – 61
2014/15 – 51
2015/16 (to the end of the 2nd quarter) – 30

Free alarms for private landlords

Posted on by Jayne Sanderson

Free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are being given to landlords in a bid to help them comply with new safety laws.

Since October 1, all private landlords must fit smoke alarms on each floor of their rental properties and install carbon monoxide alarms in rooms containing solid fuel burners and heaters – or face a £5,000 fine.

We have been given a limited number of free alarms by the government to hand out to eligible landlords.

The alarms will be available for landlords to pick up between 10:30am – 2pm Monday to Friday from:-

Rotherham Stores
Chesterton Road,
Eastwood Trading Estate,
Rotherham
S65 1ST

Station Manager Spencer Rowland said; “The private rented sector provides homes for some of the county’s most vulnerable groups and there is no doubt that these regulations will make privately rented accommodation safer and save lives.

“Tenants can also play a part in taking responsibility for their own safety by reminding their landlords about the new legislation it there are no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in their home.”

It must be stressed that these alarms are only available for private landlords with a maximum of 10 properties.

Firefighter returns from Moldovan training mission

Posted on by Alex Mills

A South Yorkshire firefighter has returned from Moldova after helping to train the country’s fire crews in road traffic collision (RTC) rescue.

Steve North, based at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Handsworth training centre, was part of a World Rescue Organisation (WRO) team spending five days working with firefighters in the Easter European country.

Steve, one of the UK’s leading specialists in RTC rescue, is Extrication Deputy Head for the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) and has previously visited Ghana to teach rescue techniques to firefighters.

The 53 year-old, who was also part of a South Yorkshire team named World Extrication Champions in 2004, has been a firefighter for 25 years. He started his career at London Fire Brigade before transferring to South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in 2000.

In 2012 there were 2,712 recorded road traffic collisions in the Republic of Moldova, causing 441 deaths. This makes the country’s fatality rate for RTCs more than 10 times that of the UK’s.

Factors contributing to this are the length of time for rescue assistance to reach incidents, a lack of necessary equipment to respond effectively to incidents, and gaps in knowledge of those responding to incidents.

Steve said: “The road death casualty rates in Moldova are unacceptably high and I think we have a duty in the developed world to share learning with firefighters there to help save lives.

“Things in Moldova have already improved thanks to previous training missions and some kit and equipment donations. The aim of this visit was to help the Moldovan fire service establish its own, national extrication challenge competition for its crews as a way of promoting skills and learning in the country in a sustainable way.”

The training trip was part of the International Development Programme (IDP) and saw Steve and the WRO team teaching extrication techniques to training staff. The team fly out to Moldova on 26 October.

‘Go to a display’ safety plea as bonfire night approaches

Posted on by Jayne Sanderson

The fire service is repeating its annual safety call as thousands of people in South Yorkshire prepare to mark bonfire night.

Though the fireworks period is traditionally one of South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s busiest, call outs to small, deliberate fires on November 5 have fallen steadily in recent years.

Fire service managers hope that by continuing to work with partners to educate youngsters and reduce call outs the public will remain safe.

In the run up to bonfire night, fire service staff have been issuing safety advice and leaflets to residents about firework safety, as well as reminding retailers not to sell fireworks to under 18s.

Trevor Bernard, head of community safety, said: “The best way to enjoy bonfire night is to attend an organised display. The bonfires are bigger, the fireworks are better and they are a lot safer.

“If you are intent on holding your own display, the advice is simple. Only buy British Standard marked fireworks, follow the instructions on the box and site any bonfires well away from buildings.”

The fire service’s top three tips for staying safe this bonfire night are:

1. Attend organised displays – they’re much safer than holding your own
2. Only buy fireworks from reputable retailers and never from people on the street
3. Light bonfires well away from sheds, fences, bushes and trees

Fire officers in Halloween fancy dress safety call

Posted on by Jayne Sanderson

Fire safety bosses are calling for people to take care around candles as the Halloween party season hits full swing.

Fancy dress costumes for children are under particular spotlight with no laws currently in place to force businesses to ensure their products are fire resistant.

Costumes are currently classed as toys, so do not have to undergo fire safety testing in the same way as children’s nightwear does.

The issue sparked national interest last year when Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman’s eight-year-old daughter suffered severe burns at a Halloween party. She was in a witch’s costume when it brushed against a candle and caught fire.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s head of prevention and protection Steve Helps, said: “Unfortunately, accidents like the one which made national headlines last year are not uncommon and this is a shocking reminder that candles and open flames can be lethal if you don’t keep an eye them.

“This is especially true if you are wearing clothing, such as fancy costumes, which often have tassels, capes and other adornments that can trail and easily catch light if they accidentally brush against a flame. That’s why it’s crucial that candles are placed well away from flammable items and clothing otherwise the results can be catastrophic.

“It is not only children in fancy dress who we are concerned about, we also see a number of incidents where vulnerable adults accidentally set their clothing or bedding alight because they are placed too close to candles, cookers or gas heaters.”

The service’s top three candle safety tips are:

1) Keep candles well away from items that could catch fire like fancy dress costumes
2) Place them on a heat resistant surface, like a ceramic plate
3) Always place candles in a fire resistant container and make sure they are out of the reach of children

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South Yorkshire firefighter prepares for Moldovan training mission

Posted on by Alex Mills

A South Yorkshire firefighter is heading to Moldova to help train the country’s fire crews in road traffic collision (RTC) rescue.

Steve North, based at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Handsworth training centre, is part of a World Rescue Organisation (WRO) team spending five days working with firefighters in the Easter European country.

Steve, one of the UK’s leading specialists in RTC rescue, is Extrication Deputy Head for the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) and has previously visited Ghana to teach rescue techniques to firefighters.

The 53 year-old, who was also part of a South Yorkshire team named World Extrication Champions in 2004, has been a firefighter for 25 years. He started his career at London Fire Brigade before transferring to South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in 2000.

In 2012 there were 2,712 recorded road traffic collisions in the Republic of Moldova, causing 441 deaths. This makes the country’s fatality rate for RTCs more than 10 times that of the UK’s.

Factors contributing to this are the length of time for rescue assistance to reach incidents, a lack of necessary equipment to respond effectively to incidents, and gaps in knowledge of those responding to incidents.

Steve said: “The road death casualty rates in Moldova are unacceptably high and I think we have a duty in the developed world to share learning with firefighters there to help save lives.

“Things in Moldova have already improved thanks to previous training missions and some kit and equipment donations. The aim of this visit is to help the Moldovan fire service establish its own, national extrication challenge competition for its crews as a way of promoting skills and learning in the country in a sustainable way.”

The training trip is part of the International Development Programme (IDP) and will see Steve and the WRO team teaching extrication techniques to training staff. The team fly out to Moldova on 26 October.