Fire service backing for hair straighteners safety drive

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Alex Mills

Beauty appliances such as hair straighteners and curling irons are a major cause of house fires and dangerous burns, according to the latest research from Electrical Safety First. An estimated 650,0001 house fires in the UK have been caused by a straightener or similar device being left on.

To highlight the issue, Electrical Safety First, with the help of TV celebrity Fred Sirieix, is launching a new campaign today called ‘Pull the Plug’. This campaign is to remind grooming devotees to switch off their beauty appliances.

The findings of this research confirm that many of us are taking serious risks in our beauty regime: one in 12 women2 admit to having left their hair straighteners switched on at least once and almost half of women3 have panicked about leaving an electrical beauty device switched on when they’re out and about.

Emma Apter, Head of Communications at Electrical Safety First said:

“Our research shows that one in 12 women have left a beauty appliance switched on at some point or other, which is extremely worrying. Straighteners can reach temperatures of over 235° and can take up to 40 minutes to cool down. Considering that they reach temperatures hotter than a deep fat-fryer, there’s a very high risk of damage or fire if left near flammable materials.
“We’d like to encourage everyone to pull the plug on accidents caused by hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons. Switch devices off when you’ve finished using them, unplug them and leave them to cool on a mat or heat proof surface.”

Electrical Safety First research has found that people aged between 18 and 24 are particularly at risk. One in three people4in this age group has been burnt by an electrical beauty appliance. The research also shows that over 200,000 people in this age group have experienced a house fire caused by an electrical beauty appliance.

For more information visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/pulltheplug or search the hashtag #PullThePlug.

Public asked not to buy extinguishers from boot sales and market stalls

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Alex Mills

South Yorkshire bargain hunters hoping to pick up a new year deal should avoid buying fire extinguishers at car boot sales, safety officers have warned.

Fire extinguishers are becoming an increasingly popular way for home owners to protect their properties from fire.

But experts at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue say it’s important to only buy extinguishers from reputable retailers and to never purchase them second hand.

Technical Support Manager Terry Guthrie, said: “You should never purchase fire extinguishers from car boot sales or pop up market stalls, where you are not provided with any guarantee or warranty, or even if the extinguisher will actually operate.

“This is a purchase that may lead to you losing your home or business when the extinguishers fails to operate in an emergency.

“A further point to note is that any green coloured fire extinguishers seen for sale will normally contain Halon gas. This type of extinguisher has been withdrawn from sale since 2003 due to the gas it contains being banned because of its ozone depleting properties, they should therefore not be on sale or bought for private or business use. “

Make dirty oven clean out New Year’s resolution, says fire service

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Alex Mills

Firefighters are urging people to make cleaning out their oven their New Year’s resolution.

Grime fires, caused by a build up of fat and grease in things like ovens and grill pans, are blamed for a big proportion of the 300 or so kitchen fires South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue attends each year.

A fire service survey last year found 40 per cent of people admit that they haven’t cleaned out their oven or grill pan for at least six months.

Head of community safety Trevor Bernard, said: “You’d be amazed how many homes we go to where minimum standards of hygiene and cleanliness aren’t maintained, putting residents at a real risk of having a fire that could severely damage their property.
“That’s why we’re raising awareness of this issue, to hopefully motivate people not to put off this particular household chore any longer and make cleaning out their oven their New Year’s resolution.”

Advice being given to residents includes:

Clean out ovens and grills regularly to avoid a build up of fat and grease
Ditch old fashioned chip pans, use oven chips or thermostat controlled fryers instead
Don’t attempt to cook if you’ve been out drinking, buy a takeaway instead

For more safety advice visit www.syfire.gov.uk

Fire service issues Black Friday fake goods warning

Posted on November 26, 2015 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

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.
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”.
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.
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.
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 November 26, 2015 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

CO advice to be given to residents in National Grid link up

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Alex Mills

National Grid has teamed up with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue to give lifesaving carbon monoxide (CO) advice to the area’s most vulnerable residents.

The partnership is part of an initiative National Grid is running with seven fire and rescue services across the country, including Leicestershire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, and West Midlands. It follows a successful trial with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, who delivered over 3,000 home safety checks, including advice on CO symptoms, prevention and how to ensure their homes are safe from the silent killer.

Head of community safety for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, Kevin Ronan, said: “Too many people die needlessly or become seriously ill because of carbon monoxide poisoning each year. As a fire service, our work in the community has already helped to massively reduce house fire deaths and injuries, so it’s only natural that we should look to extend that success by making people more aware of other safety issues like CO.”

It is hoped that through the fire service’s regular home safety checks, more and more people will become aware of the dangers of CO poisoning, take further action to make their homes safer and share their knowledge with others.

Head of operations for National Grid James Harrison said: “We are seeing great results so far which means the chance of people being harmed or killed by CO is falling.”

Known as the ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide poisoning kills over 50 people a year, with 4,000 people attending hospital with carbon monoxide symptoms. An odourless, colourless gas, carbon monoxide is not easily detected and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu.

Mr Harrison added: “The partnership with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue means more and more people are getting the CO safety message. We are providing them with the information, knowledge and CO alarms and they are able to deliver these to far more people during their Home Safety checks.”

The results from the trial with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service showed:

68% increase in CO awareness
81% of respondents would take all the recommended further action. This includes getting their gas appliances checked every year, passing on information to friends and family, buying a CO alarm and seeking medical advice if the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning occur
99% indicated they would share their new knowledge of CO dangers with family and friends

Carbon monoxide is often known as the silent killer because you can’t see it or smell it but carbon monoxide poisoning can be avoided by taking simple steps. Ensure your gas appliances are fitted, maintained and serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer and as a back-up, fit an audible carbon monoxide detector. They can be bought for as little as £15 and could save your life.

Following the success of the Staffordshire trial, National Grid teamed up with six further fire and rescue services and shared the trial findings with the other gas distribution networks. The other networks have now also started to team up with services in their areas to provide CO awareness.

Safety call as student landlords failing to fix fire risks

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Alex Mills

Fire officers are urging the tens of thousands of new and returning students arriving in Sheffield this week to report accommodation safety concerns to their landlords.

Research from Electrical Safety First has shown negligent landlords and letting agents are failing to address common safety concerns, which could result in fires.

The charity found that:

1 in 4 students experienced faulty electrics in their private rented accommodation
37% of landlords failed to fix exposed wiring
35% never rectified damp, condensation or flooding around electrics
30% didn’t resolve issues around sockets and light fittings

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue say that whilst standards of rented accommodation for students in Sheffield are generally improving, students should stay vigilant and be bold in reporting safety any concerns.

Head of community safety Kevin Ronan, said: “Our message to students is that you shouldn’t have to put up with poor safety standards in your rented property. Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that your electrical installation is kept in repair and proper working order. So keep an eye out for constant tripping of fuses, flickering lights and scorching around sockets.
“Most freshers will be living in well managed halls of residence or private student accommodation complexes. But many more returning students will be heading into the private rented sector for the first time and should report any concerns to their landlords to prevent fires.”

Other top fire safety tips for students include:

Ensure that your property is fitted with a working smoke alarm. Test the alarm upon arrival in your house and again at regular intervals throughout the year.
Make sure your landlord or fellow housemates do not store anything on top of your microwave as they can cause it to overheat.
Don’t attempt to cook after a night out drinking- buy a takeaway on the way home instead

Water safety warning ahead of bank holiday weekend

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Alex Mills

Firefighters are urging the public not to swim in lakes and reservoirs this weekend, with warmer weather set to return.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says it has attended 282 water related incidents since 2012. Most were flooding or animal related, but 49 incidents involved rescuing people from open water. People died in three of those incidents.

Safety officers say people should avoid open water- like rivers and lakes- because they may not always be aware of the danger it poses. River flows can be unpredictable and water is often deeper, colder and faster than expected. People should enjoy water safely in swimming pools or safer, specialist facilities instead.

Head of community safety Kevin Ronan, said: “We regularly receive 999 calls in the summer about people getting into difficulty in water, so it’s only a matter of time before someone’s safety is really put at risk unless people listen to our advice.

“It can be tempting to cool off in the summer months, but stick to a swimming pool. Hundreds of people drown each year in the UK and places like rivers, lakes or flooded quarries are completely unsuitable for swimming as they hide a number of hidden dangers.”

Over 400 people die in the water every year in the UK, and firefighters are urging people to follow some basic rules to stay safe.

The dangers of open water are:

The water can be much deeper than you expect
Rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs are much colder than you think
Open water can carry water borne diseases, like Weils disease
Cold water dramatically affects your ability to swim
There may be hidden currents, which can pull you under the water
You don’t know what lies beneath, like pieces of rubbish or reeds which can trap or injure you

Schools urged to install sprinklers as number of fire revealed

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Alex Mills

Fire officers are calling on the region’s schools to consider installing sprinkler systems, after attending more than 50 blazes in two years.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says many of the incidents were deliberately started fires on school grounds, such as bin and grass fires.

But other incidents involved school buildings, prompting safety officers to issue their warning.

Technical fire safety manager, Amy Jenkinson, said: “When you consider the huge costs associated with a school fire such as rebuilding, temporary relocation, loss of equipment and pupil’s academic work, it seems like an obvious move to install a sprinkler system, but many schools still don’t.

“Above everything else, sprinklers give added protection to the pupils and staff at the school, and the firefighters who respond to tackle the fire.”

The fire service was called to 59 incidents at schools between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2015. Of these, 15 started accidentally whilst 43 were arson and one was an unknown cause.

Sprinklers are the most effective way to ensure that fires are suppressed or even extinguished before the fire service can arrive. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who attend incidents and reduce the amount of damage to property.

Sprinklers also reduce environmental damage by limiting the amount of smoke which enters the atmosphere and reducing water runoff from firefighting.

In 2012 firefighters attended a blaze at the then newly opened Parkwood Academy in the early hours of the morning, but a sprinkler system activated immediately, containing the fire and raising the alarm.

In contrast, a fire at Campsmount school in Doncaster in 2009 caused millions of pounds worth of damage and the entire facility had to be rebuilt. The school did not have sprinklers fitted.

Fire also destroyed Edlington Comprehensive School, which had recently closed, in January 2009.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has already helped pioneer a drive for sprinklers to be installed in residential properties. In 2011, sprinklers were retro-fitted into a block of flats in Gleadless after a grant from the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association. It was the first scheme of its kind in the country.

Connor’s story

Posted on August 11, 2015November 3, 2015 by Alex Mills

Connor liked to spend time with his mates. When the nights got darker, they’d hang out near the shops or the takeaway. Or they’d talk to girls and play music on their phones. Other times they’d just mess about.

One night, one of the lads brought some fireworks to play with. Someone, Connor can’t remember who, lit a firework and dropped it in a wheelie bin on the street.

Nothing happened. Connor went back to have a look.

Suddenly the firework went off and the bin caught light.

The fire got really big, really fast. Flames leapt out and there was loads of thick, black smoke. Then the firework exploded. Connor’s mates ran off. Then he felt his face burning.

Connor wanted to look good in front of his mates. Now he looks like this.

Advice for young people

Even small fires spread quickly and can turn into something that could hurt you or someone you love- like your little brother or one of your mates
Playing with fireworks could leave you with burns and scars which will last you for the rest of your life
When fire engines are out at things like bin and grass fires, they aren’t available to rescue people from house fires. What if there was a fire in your house and your mum was trapped, but firefighters were busy putting out a fire you’d started?
People starting fires do get caught. As well as landing you in big trouble with your mum or dad, you could end up in prison

Advice for parents

Know where your children are playing this bonfire period. Is it safe? What are they up to when they’re there?
Keep matches, lighters and fireworks in a safe place where your kids can’t find them
Look out for signs your child could be starting fires- things like the smell of smoke on their clothing or lighters in their pockets. Talk to them about the danger of starting fires

Advice for residents

Help reduce fires by bringing in your bin in off the street as soon as it’s been collected, and only put it out on the morning of collection
Don’t store things like unwanted sofas and other furniture in your garden- these are an easy target for people wanting to start fires
If you know someone is starting fires in your area, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Arsonists do get caught and they do get prosecuted

Connor’s story is fictional but the circumstances leading to his injuries are based on research and experience compiled by the police and fire service.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

Safety advice