Help is here to reduce smoking fire risk

Braintree District Council are pleased to support Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s latest safety campaign to reduce smoking fire risk.

If you are a smoker, or know someone who is, you will have heard many reasons why you should consider quitting. But have you ever considered the fire risk associated with smoking? 

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is urging smokers to give up.

Head of Prevention Will Newman said: “Fires started by cigarettes or smoking materials result in more fatalities than any other fire. Despite a fall in the overall number of fires caused by these products, it’s still the biggest cause of accidental fires in the home across the country.  

“Every smoker should be aware of the risks they take every time they light up and drop the habit of smoking indoors, especially in bed, or under the influence of alcohol. The risk of falling asleep before you ‘put it out, right out’ is just too great.  

“Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them at least monthly. Working smoke alarms can give you the extra time you need to escape if the worst should happen.”  

NHS stop smoking services can help you quit

Without a doubt, quitting is the best way to remove the fire risk.

The NHS has many stop smoking services, which are free, friendly and can massively boost your chances.

More information can be found here: www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit/ 

• Never smoke in bed. Take care when you’re tired – it’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight.
• Never smoke when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If your lit cigarette starts a fire you could be less able to escape.
• Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.
• Never leave lit cigarettes, or other smoking materials unattended – they can easily overbalance as they burn down.
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn.
• It’s safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
• Never smoke if you use healthcare equipment like medical oxygen or an air flow pressure relief mattress. If you use paraffin-based emollient creams, ask for non-flammable alternatives instead. If you or someone else you care for continues to smoke, then consider additional safety measures such as fire retardant bedding or nightwear.
• A lot of people make the switch from smoking to vaping, but even vaping has fire safety risks – the risks around vaping tend to come from counterfeit or faulty products, and poor charging practices.