With the Eden Festival opening last night approaching planning is well advanced for what is certain to be another terrific event at Raehills Meadows. Police Scotland is calling on all music festival revellers to have fun, but to keep themselves safe. Continue reading Police advice for music festival season
It’s Christmas time and that means cars loaded up with family, friends and – of course – luggage and presents. Chances are there’s also going to be more than one journey for most with some driving further than they would normally. With the weather and driving conditions likely to vary across different parts of the country, that means being prepared for anything and avoiding breakdowns is the key to arriving full of Christmas cheer. Continue reading Driving from home this Christmas? Check your tyres before you leave
In a New Year with new beginnings, the dangers of fake and unlicensed medical products remain the same. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency continue their campaign against fake and unlicensed medical products in 2017: Continue reading Fake medical products: don’t risk it
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service offers safety advice
Storm Gertrude, the latest winter storm to hit Scotland, wll bring wet, windy and wintry weather to communities across the country today and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has already been involved in emergency responses, along with other partner agencies at flooding and water rescue incidents in the Borders and in Dumfries and Galloway over the past two days.
The Met Office has issued amber “be prepared” and yellow “be aware” warnings for Scotland with an amber warning for high winds in place from 3.00am until 10.00am on Friday. Heavy rain throughout Friday is expected to be followed by icy and wintry conditions into Saturday.
SFRS will continue to monitor the situation across Scotland as the effects of STORM GERTRUDE begin to be felt. Resources are in place to support local communities using specialist equipment to prevent and reduce the impact of flooding on domestic and commercial properties and ultimately keep them safe and allow them to prepare for the expected weather over the next 24 hours.
In addition to the already present strong winds and rain in some areas of the country, forecasters are also predicting wintry weather, including snow and ice. During this period of unsettled weather, people are advised to stay up to date with the latest Met Office forecasts and National Severe Weather Warnings and find out what to do in severe weather so they can plan ahead for the weather in store.
The main risks normally associated with weather patterns such as this are flooding and loss of power due to the wind and rain. As a result the public may find themselves in a situation where their homes are affected. The Fire Service would like to remind anyone who finds themselves without power or water entering the home that they can take a few simple steps to ensure they are not placed in any additional risk from fire.
When using candles never leave them unattended and make sure you blow them out when you leave the house or go to bed. Make sure that when in use, candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains, Christmas trees, decorations and toys. Other tips include:
The public can get further information on safety when using candles by using the link below:
http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/festive-safety/candles.aspx
If your home suffers a loss of power or is flooded and you are using portable heaters to heat or dry out your home here are some simple tips to keep you safe:
If you or someone you know is vulnerable or may be at risk from fire please get in touch and arrange a FREE home fire safety visit with local firefighters by calling 0800 0731 999 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk
A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk/winter
Further resources:
MET OFFICE WARNINGS – http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/guide/weather/severe-weather-advice
FLOODLINE – http://www.floodlinescotland.org.uk/flood-updates/
TRAFFIC SCOTLAND: http://trafficscotland.org/
TRAVELLINE – http://www.travelinescotland.com/welcome.do
SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) – http://www.sepa.org.uk/
READY SCOTLAND – http://www.readyscotland.org/are-you-ready/severe-weather/
Six rescued from West Pilton Rise stair fire
Fire chiefs have urged residents not to leave rubbish or bins in common stairwells in tenement blocks. The appeal follows a fire in a stair in West Pilton Rise on Monday morning.
Sixteen firefighters from Crewe Toll, Tollcross and McDonald Road fire stations attended the fire, which was also attended by Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland personnel. Police Scotland also set up a Casualty Care Centre in West Pilton Park during the incident.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the fire using a high pressure hosereel. Six people were rescued from the building by firefighters, two of whom were taken to hospital for a precautionary examination suffering from smoke inhalation. Both were later released.
Group Manager Steve Gourlay, the City of Edinburgh Prevention and Protection Manager, said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or bins in the common stairwells of tenement blocks. This can be very attractive to fire setters and increases the risk of a fire.
“Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders. In Edinburgh, roughly 100 deliberate property fires occur every year with many of these involving combustibles in stairwells and the casualties and damage caused are preventable and we need to reduce them.
“This fire could have had far worse consequences and the impact for the families affected is likely to be significant. Any incident like this, where we have to rescue children and adults from windows, using ladders due to thick black smoke, always has the potential to have a tragic ending. Fortunately, on this occasion, those taken to hospital were for precautionary checks only but again this is not always the case.
“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked. Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.
“Local firecrews revisited the location yesterday to provide vital advice, reassurance and a home fire safety visit for those who need it.”
He added: “I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week. We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.
“If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.
“If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, or by contacting their local fire station.”
A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk
Fire chiefs are reminding the public to stay safe while cooking following a kitchen fire in a Dumbiedykes Road flat last night. A man was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation at the Royal Infirmary following the incident, and firefighters discovered that the flat did not have a working smoke alarm.
Station Manager Steve Harkins said: “Many kitchen fires happen when people are not paying attention or they leave things unattended but there are several things you can do to prevent fires in the kitchen.
“Don’t leave pans unattended. Take them off the heat if you have to leave the room. Fire starts when your attention stops. When you have finished cooking, make sure the cooker or oven is turned off.
“The kitchen can be the most dangerous place in the home. Fire can cause damage not just to your property, but more seriously can put family and loved ones at risk.
“The property did not have a working smoke alarm. We would encourage anyone who doesn’t have a smoke alarm to have one fitted immediately. Smoke alarms save lives. If you don’t have one then call Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and arrange a free Home Fire Safety Visit and we will provide you with a smoke alarm free of charge. It could save your life.
“Home fire safety visits only take around half an hour and are delivered by firefighters from your local community. If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, by texting ‘check’ to 61611 or by contacting their local fire station.”
Kitchen Safety
More fires start in the kitchen than in any other room in the house. Here’s some advice to help you stay safe.
General cooking
Make sure your home has working smoke alarms. Consider fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen
Make sure your cooker is or has been fitted properly by a qualified fitter
Keep your oven, cooker and grill clean and make sure there’s no fat on it
Keep tea towels, cloths and kitchen paper away from the cooker
Keep fats and oils away from the cooker
Cook with handles turned to the side to avoid them spilling
Use a flameless lighter on gas cookers instead of matches or a lighter
You should never:
Hang or dry clothing and towels on or near the cooker
Leave your cooker, grill or oven on when you go out – even on a timer
Leave electrical wires or cords near the cooker
Keep anything on top of an eye-level grill
Put anything metal in your microwave – even tin foil.
Chip pans and deep-frying
Modern electric deep fat fryers are much safer than traditional chip pans as they have a safety switch that cuts them off to stop them overheating and catching fire.
Try not to use a traditional chip pan if you can because there’s always a high risk of fire. If you do use a traditional chip pan, follow our safety advice:
Only ever fill one third full
Turn the handle to the side – but not over any of the other cooker rings
Fry in small amounts – overfilling could cause spills
Make sure food going in it is dry, not dripping wet or covered in ice.
You should never:
Deep fry when you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs or if you are feeling tired
Leave the pan alone – It only takes a second for a fire to start.
Other kitchen appliances
Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers have powerful parts that heat up, any of which could start a fire if something goes wrong. Follow our safety advice:
Always switch appliances off at the wall before going to bed or going out
Always plug straight into a wall socket and avoid adaptors for lots of plugs as they can result in electricity overloads
Never Leave them running when going out or to bed.
Open fires and stoves
Keep all furniture at least three feet away from your fire
Put the fire guard up if you feel sleepy
Let fires burn down before going to bed – and don’t forget to put the guard up
Keep the guard up at all times if you have children or pets
Have your chimney swept at least once a year – twice if you use it lots
Check your hearth regularly – if it’s cracked, have it fixed professionally
You should never:
Leave a lit fire unattended without a fireguard
Use flammable liquids like barbecue lighter fuel to light a fire
Throw flammable liquids or spray cans onto the fire
Use building or packing timber as firewood – it’s very sparky
Dry clothes over or in front of the fire – they could catch light
Place mirrors over the fire – people stand too close and risk setting clothes on fire
For stoves, you should also:
Replace any cracked door glass or casings immediately
Always use certified fire glass in stove doors
Use the right type of fuel (using coal in wood stoves can damage them)
Be careful not to leave flammable items like clothes and paper on top of the stove.
A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk
