Guide: Hou9 Fire Safety and Older People in Scotland

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Who we are

Age Scotland is the national charity for older people. We work to improve the lives of everyone over the age of 50 so that they can love later life.

Our vision is a Scotland which is the best place in the world to grow older.

Our mission is to inspire, involve and empower older people in Scotland, and influence others, so that people can make the most of later life.

Our three strategic aims are to:

Help older people to be as well as they can be

Promote a positive view of ageing and later life

Tackle loneliness and isolation

How we can help

We know that growing older doesn’t come with a manual. Later life can bring changes and opportunities to your life and you may need to know about rights, organisations and services which are unfamiliar to you.

That’s why we provide free information and advice to help you on a range of topics including benefits and entitlements, social care, legal issues such as Power of Attorney, housing and much more. All of our guides are available to download for free from our website, or you can contact our helpline team to have copies posted to you for free.

The Age Scotland helpline is a free, confidential phone service for older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for information and advice.

Later life can bring times when you just need someone to talk to. Our friendship line is part of our wider helpline and older people can call us for a chat. We’re here to listen, provide friendship and offer support.

Index

Help from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service p1

Who is at risk of fire? p2

What causes fires? p3

Heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms p4

Maintaining alarms p6

Hearing loss p6

Managing the risk of fire p7

Information and advice p9

Disclaimer

While we aim to ensure that the information in this document is factually correct at the time of production, Age Scotland cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. Please ensure that you have an up to date factsheet and that it clearly applies to your situation.

No guide can ever be a complete guide to the law, which also changes from time to time. Legal advice should always be taken if you are in doubt.

Please note that the inclusion of named agencies, companies, products, services or publications in this factsheet does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Age Scotland.

This guide may be reproduced in whole or in part in unaltered form with due acknowledgement to Age Scotland. Reproduction in any other form is not permitted without written permission from Age Scotland.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Help from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Everyone knows that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are the people who will respond if you call 999 with a fire emergency.

But another vitally-important part of the fire service’s role is to work with older people, providing fire safety information and advice, practical assistance to make their home as safe as possible and suitable fire detection and warning systems.

You can ask the Fire Service to arrange a visit to your home for fire safety advice. They will check fire safety arrangements, help you sort out a fire escape plan and provide information about smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.

For fire safety information or to arrange a free home fire safety visit, call 0800 0731 999, text ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/at-home/for-older-people.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Who is at risk of fire?

People over fifty are more at risk of fire than younger people. Some long-term medical conditions, disabilities and medicines can affect alertness, concentration and the ability to react quickly. If you are concerned about the side effects of your medication, you should speak to your GP.

People who are on a low income can also be at risk if they cannot afford to repair or replace faulty equipment such as cookers, electric blankets and electrical sockets. If you need repairs in your home there may be a local Care and Repair service who could help. Call Care and Repair Scotland on 0141 221 9879 for details of your local service, see their website www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk or call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

What causes fires?

Many fires in the home are caused by forgetfulness or becoming distracted whilst cooking.

The most common cause of fatal fires is the unsafe disposal of smouldering cigarettes, tobacco or matches.

Most accidental fires that lead to injury or death are caused by a lack of concentration, or problems with thinking or remembering.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Heat and smoke alarms are the first line of defence against fire. If they are working properly and are in the right place they will quickly alert you to a fire, giving you time to escape safely and call the emergency services.

The rules about smoke and heat alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors, changed in February 2022. The new rules mean every home now needs to have:

• a smoke alarm in the room you spend most of your time in during the day

• a smoke alarm in every hallway and landing

• a heat alarm in every kitchen

The alarms must be mounted on the ceiling. They can be wired into the mains electricity, or can have a sealed, tamper-proof battery. They must be linked together so that if an alarm goes off in one room, the other alarms will also sound, however, they can often be linked without wires so you don’t have to damage your decor.

All homes must also have a carbon monoxide detector in any room with a carbon-fuelled appliance (for example a boiler, fire or heater, but not a cooker), or with a flue. This doesn’t need to be linked to the fire and heat alarms. It doesn’t matter what brand of alarms you choose, as long as they meet the following standards:

• smoke alarms: BS EN14604:2005

• heat alarms: BS 5446-2:2003

• carbon monoxide detector: British Kitemark EN 50291-1

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

If you own your own home, you are responsible for making sure your property meets the new rules. If you want to sell your property, the home report will need to show that it has the correct alarms and detectors.

If you are a tenant, your landlord is responsible for ensuring the smoke and heat alarms meet current regulations.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Maintaining alarms

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on installing and maintaining alarms. To test alarms you should:

• once a week, press the button on the alarm to make sure that it still beeps; if you cannot safely reach the alarm, ask a carer or family member to help

• gently dust or vacuum the outer casing regularly

• replace the alarms every ten years, or sooner if they don’t work when tested. Don’t try to replace the batteries in sealed-battery alarms.

Hearing loss

If you have a hearing impairment that makes it difficult or impossible for you to hear an alarm, there may be specialist devices that can help you. These must be fitted in addition to the legally-required alarms.

For more advice, speak to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, your local council or a specialist advice service.

RNID Scotland can provide information and support to those who have hearing loss. There are a number of ways you can contact them:

Telephone: 0808 808 0123

Webchat: https://rnid.org.uk/about-us/rnid-in-scotland

BSL call: https://rnid.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/bslinformation-service/

Textphone: 0808 808 9000

SMS: 0780 0000 360

Email: contact@rnid.org.uk

Managing the risk of fire

You cannot completely remove the risk of fire, but there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk:

Cooking: the riskiest ways of cooking are deep frying, grilling and cooking on gas hobs. Use the safest, simplest forms of cooking and preparing hot food where possible. Do not fry or cook hot food when you have had alcohol, drugs or medication that may affect your concentration, or make you tired or drowsy.

Safety at night: a serious fire is most likely to happen at night when you are asleep. Have a night-time routine that includes:

• switching off all unnecessary electrical equipment

• emptying ash trays and safely disposing of cigarettes

• closing all room doors to prevent fire and smoke spreading

• making sure that you have access to a phone

• knowing where your door keys are

Electrical safety: the older you are, the longer you may have had your cooker, fridge and washing machine. Any damaged, faulty or unsafe electrical equipment should be repaired or replaced.

Information about electrical safety is available from the Electrical Safety Council’s website www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk.

Never overload plugs or sockets; if you need to use adaptors, use multi-socket adaptors which have overload protection.

You can reduce the risk of being affected by fires involving white goods such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers by not using them when you are out or asleep.

Register Your Appliances: fridges and freezers are designed to be left on 24 hours a day. You can help to ensure that

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

they are safe by registering them and your other white goods, at www.registermyappliance.org.uk. If you do this you will be contacted if there are any safety issues. You can also check for product recalls at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/productrecalls.

Safe storage: do not store things which could easily catch fire such as oils or aerosol sprays near to a heat source, or close to your electric meter or fuse box, especially if this is in an under-stair cupboard.

Furniture and bedding: any upholstered furniture in your home must be labelled as match and fire resistant. Fire resistant bedding and mattresses are also available – ask the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for advice about this.

Power cuts: reduce your fire risk in a power cut by keeping a torch and spare batteries handy. Avoid using candles or tea lights.

Solid fuel heating: if you have an open fire, make sure you have a secure fire guard and do not dry bedding or clothes close to the fire. For safety advice, contact the Solid Fuel Association on 01773 835400 or see https://solidfuel.co.uk.

Chimneys: your chimney should be swept at least once a year. To find a local chimney sweep call the National Association of Chimney Sweeps on 01785 336555 or visit https://nacs.org.uk.

Fire safety plan: you cannot remove the risk of fire completely, so make a fire plan for how you would escape in case of fire and check that you are insured. Update the plan if your health or mobility changes.

Fire safety and older people in Scotland

Information and advice

Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222

The Age Scotland helpline provides information, friendship and advice to older people, their relatives and carers.

If you need an interpreter call 0800 12 44 222 and simply state the language you need e.g. Polish or Urdu. Stay on the line for a few minutes and the Age Scotland helpline staff will do the rest.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Detailed fire safety information and advice to the public is available from firescotland.gov.uk

If you would like a home fire safety visit or know someone who would like one, call the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Freephone 0800 0731 999 or text ‘fire’ to 80800.

We are grateful for the help of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in updating this guide

How you can help

Our vision is a Scotland which is the best place in the world to grow older.

All the information and advice we provide is free and completely impartial and in helping people access their rights and entitlements, it can be life changing.

We are an ageing population and more people than ever are coming to us for support. You can help us be there for those that need us most.

Make a donation

No matter how small or large, donations make a massive difference and help us continue our important work.

Call 03330 15 14 60

Visit age.scot/donate

Text LATERLIFE to 70085 to donate £5.*

Fundraise

Whether it is having a bake sale, running a marathon or knitting small hats for the Big Knit, there are so many ways to raise vital funds to support our work. To find out more, call 0333 323 2400 or visit age.scot/fundraise.

Leave us a gift in your Will

By choosing to leave us a gift in your Will, you can help Age Scotland to continue being there for vulnerable older people in the years to come. To find out more, call 0333 323 2400 or visit age.scot/legacy.

* Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message

Let’s keep in touch

Sign up to our newsletter

Our regular newsletters by email contain details of our campaigns, services and how you can support our work. Sign up today by visiting age.scot/roundup

Follow us on social media

Our social media channels are a great way to keep up to date with our work and issues that affect older people.

Contact us:

Head office 0333 323 2400

Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222

Email info@agescotland.org.uk

Visit our website www.agescotland.org.uk

Follow us on social media: /agescotland @AgeScotland @age_scotland /AgeScotland

We are grateful to the Scottish Government for part-funding this publication

Age Scotland, part of the Age Network, is an independent charity dedicated to improving the later lives of everyone on the ageing journey, within a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland.  Registration Number 153343. Charity Number SC010100.

Age Scotland is the national charity for older people. We work to improve the lives of everyone over the age of 50 so that they can love later life.

Our vision is a Scotland which is the best place in the world to grow older.