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There are a number of health and lifestyle behaviours that increase the likelihood of being involved in a fire.
If these factors apply to someone you care for, it's important to make sure appropriate measures are taken so they know what to do in the event of a fire in their home, and react appropriately.
We go into more detail in the next section. There is a separate page for healthcare equipment including oxygen therapy, dynamic airflow pressure relieving mattresses and incontinence products – and there is specialist advice to support you if you care for a person who is a smoker, or someone who has hoarding disorder.
Let's take a closer look at the of health and lifestyle factors that increase a person's vulnerability to fire risk.
There are a number of factors that increase a person's risk of a fire starting:
These factors might mean a person might not be able to react as quickly in the event of a fire.
Some people might not be able to escape a fire as quickly as other, due to factors such as:
If you know or work directly with anyone who has any combination of the risk factors, please encourage them to arrange a free home fire safety visit. Visits can be arranged at any time (24/7), and specialist alarms can also be fitted – for example, strobe light and vibrating pad alarms for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
If any of these signs are combined with limited mobility – for example, if the person you care for is bed bound or spends most of their time in a chair – the person is particularly at risk. It's important to make sure appropriate measures are taken so they know what to do in the event of a fire in their home, and react appropriately.
Learn more about escape plans from homes here, and from workplaces (like residential care homes) here.
Find out more about home fire safety visits and book one for the person you care for.
If you are a support worker providing care there are some extra steps to take:
It's also a good idea to get some training on how to recognise fire risks. This will help you to spot signs that may indicate the person you care for is at risk of injury from fire and what steps you can take to reduce those risks. There's a good free online course available here.
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