London Fire Brigade launched its older people’s strategy this week at the West End’s Commonwealth Club, with actress Honor Blackman giving her support.
London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Chair, Val Shawcross and Age Concern London Chief Executive, Samantha Mauger also addressed an audience of invited guests representing older people’s organisations across the city.
The Brigade’s strategy highlights the work being done to protect the Capital’s older people from fire and also sets out the Brigade’s commitment to employ, develop and train older Londoners.
Invited guests included the NHS, local government, charities and the voluntary sector. They met staff from London Fire Brigade to discuss opportunities for closer partnership working on projects which could reduce fire deaths and injuries.
Val Shawcross, speaking at the event, highlighted why older people are a particular target for the Brigade’s fire safety work: “Of course many older people are active, have access to information about safety and know how to protect themselves, but this isn’t always the case. Many live alone and have reduced mobility. Bring issues like smoking in bed, candles, electric blankets and faulty electric heaters into the mix and you have situations which all too often end in tragedy.”
During the event, Honor Blackman told guests: “I’m glad that you are all are coming together to protect people. Having a good quality of life and the ability to keep ourselves safe from harm is something that’s easy to take for granted. It is only after a tragedy has occurred that we realise we should have been better prepared. So, as a Londoner I’d like to thank the organisations in the room who look after the welfare of people across the City.”
Key London statistics:
• Around 60 per cent of fire deaths involve the over 60s
• Nine out of ten of these deaths occur in the home
• London Fire Brigade wants to carry out 40,250 home fire safety visits* this year and hopes that partnerships set up with other organisations will lead to over 67,000 further home fire safety visits.
Notes for editors:
• *London Fire Brigade is offering all Londoners a free home fire safety visit. The Brigade visits homes, chats about fire risks and fits free smoke alarms if they are needed. To arrange a free home fire safety check call 08000 28 44 28.
• Honour Blackman is best known as ‘Cathy Gale’, the original partner of Steed in The Avengers, and ‘Pussy Galore’ in the Bond film Goldfinger. Her many other films include Life at The Top, Moment to Moment, So Long at the Fair and The Virgin and the Gypsy. Her career has also seen extensive television and theatre work.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
