On National No Smoking Day, the Isle of Man Fire Service is warning the public of the dangers of smoking in the home.
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? And what are you doing to reduce that risk?
Smoking in The Home
Without a doubt, quitting is the best way to remove the fire risk.
The fire service says that “fires caused by smoking products kills more people than fires caused by any other item”.
Not smoking while tired, using a proper and secure ashtray and stubbing them out properly can greatly reduce the risk of an accidental fire.
Helping Keep You Safe
To help you keep safe, Isle of Man Fire & Rescue Service is reminding smokers to ‘Put it Out, Right Out’ whenever they light up.
Without a working smoke alarm, you are at least eight times more likely to die in an accidental fire in the home.
Simple Steps
These simple steps can help prevent a cigarette fire in the home:
- 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.
- Fit a smoke alarm and test it at least monthly. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.
- Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes 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.
- Make an attempt to quit using NHS support if you need it. If you do not want to quit, consider vaping.
- Home Fire Safety Check. Visit: https://www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/ to conduct your own home fire safety check
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