Going up in Smoke?
You might enjoy smoking. You’ll know about the health risks. But do you know about the fire risks?
Did you know that most people who die in house fires are killed because of smoking? Did you know that most people who die are under the influence of drink or drugs? And that most people who die don’t have a working smoke alarm?
It’s a fact. Every year, there are around 500 deaths in house fires in the UK. Over 4 in every 10 of these deaths are as a result of someone being careless with smoking materials, like cigarettes, matches and lighters.
That’s around 200 people killed every year. That’s a tragic waste. You can help prevent it. Or you - and your family - could be part of this year’s statistics.
Smoking is the main cause of Death from Fire in the House
- Smoking causes around 5,500 house fires every year in the UK
- These fires have killed more than 1,500 people and injured over 20,000 people in the last 10 years
- These fires are more likely to happen at night – between 10pm and 3am
- Men are twice as likely to be victims as women and every year, smoking materials cause
1 in every 3 deaths of children under 16
- They injure another 500 children, every year
Cigarettes, Cigars and Pipes
If you leave a cigarette, a cigar or a pipe burning on the edge of an ashtray it can easily
fall. If it falls onto a chair, or a newspaper, or
clothing it can start the material smouldering
without you realising. And it can smoulder for a
long time before a serious fire starts.
- Never walk away from smoking materials when they’re burning – not even for a second
- Never smoke in an armchair when you’re tired or feeling drowsy. It can be fatal, especially if you have been drinking or you are using drugs
- Make sure that cigarettes and cigars are properly stubbed out in an ashtray – and pipes are emptied – before you leave the room
- Always empty ashtrays. Pour water over cigarette ends before putting them in the bin outside
- Never – EVER – SMOKE IN BED. You might not wake up. EVER
Matches and Lighters
Children are curious. They like to experiment. But they’re not
always old enough to realise the dangers.
Fires are often caused by children playing with matches and lighters that have been left lying around the house. Every year, children are killed or injured.
It only needs a child to be left on their own for a few minutes with a lighter or a box of matches for a serious blaze to start.
- Check that your matches and lighters are not left lying around
- Check that you only use one disposable lighter at a time
- Check that you always put out matches properly
- Check that lighters are child-resistant and matches are kept in child-resistant containers
- Do you know where your matches and lighters are right now?
Take Care…
- With your matches and lighters
- When you’re putting out your pipe and stubbing out your cigarettes and cigars
- To empty your ashtray – pour water on cigarette ends before putting them in the bin outside
- When you’re tired or when you’ve been drinking
- That your smoke alarms are working
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