Keeping Safe In Your Home Advice on how to prevent accidents at home
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Contents Introduction 4 Safety in your home
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Security 8 Fire 10 Electricity 12 Gas 16 Balconies and Landings
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Windows and Glazing 22 Rubbish 24 Building Work 25 Asbestos 26 Outside your home 28 Child Safety 30 Emergencies 32 Area Housing Offices 35
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Introduction
This booklet has been produced by A1 Housing to help tenants live in their homes safely. Every year in the UK more than 6,000 people die in accidents in the home and 2.7 million turn up at accident and emergency.
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Safety in your home With common sense and an awareness of where dangers are, most accidents can be prevented. This booklet covers the most common causes of accidents at home. Follow the advice given in this booklet and it is much less likely that you will have an accident. A1 Housing tries to ensure that council properties are as safe as possible by the Decent Homes works carried out over the last 10 years, fire safety and the on going major improvements works. We also carry out annual safety checks to gas, solid fuel and oil-fired boilers and by carrying out necessary repairs using fully trained and qualified tradesmen, fire risk assessments for vulnerable Tenants. However, you are responsible for your own safety and for anyone living with you or visiting you.
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Facts & Figures •
More accidents happen at home than anywhere else.
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Every year there are approximately 6,000 deaths as the result of a home accident
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More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units
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Children under the age of five and people over 65 (particularly those over 75) are most likely to have an accident at home
• Over 76,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age •
Falls are the most common accidents, which can cause serious injury at any time of life. The risk increases with age
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More women than men over the age of 65 die as the result of an accident in the home
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Every year over 62 children under 14 die as a result of an accident in the home
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Around 25,000 under-fives attend A&E departments each year after being accidentally poisoned
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An average of 13 children a day under the age of 4 suffer a severe injury from a burn or a scald. A hot drink can still scald a small child up to 15 minutes after it is made
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More accidents happen in the lounge/living room than anywhere else in the home.
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Every year more than 4,200 children are involved in falls on the stairs and 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured falling from windows
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Boys have more accidents than girls
• The cost to society of UK home accident injuries has been estimated at £45.63billion (£45,630million) annually.
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Security Always lock doors and windows when you go out, even for a short time.
• Remember to lock your front door even if you are only going in the back garden. • Don’t leave your keys where they can be seen from outside. • Leave a light on in your home when you are out at night. • A spy hole or viewer in your door will help you to see who is outside. 8
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• A security light will also help you see who is outside, but please make sure you ask your Housing Officer for permission before installing one. • Fitting a door chain helps to stop anyone forcing their way in. • Put a strong lock on any sheds or garages. • If you keep any equipment in garages or sheds, cover it up or blank out any windows. • •
Make sure not to lock yourself out*. Ask to see the identification of any stranger calling at your home. All A1 Housing staff and authorised contractors carry identification cards with photographs. If in doubt, keep them out.
• You can request that A1 Housing employees use a pre- determined password when visiting your home so you can be sure they are genuine.
*There may be a charge to let you back in
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Fire • Keep children away from naked flames and keep matches or lighters out of their reach. • Never put anything that can burn, (paint, white spirit, paper, material, etc), next to any heat. Do not have curtains next to a cooker. • Keep gas bottles out of your home. • Fire doors stop smoke and flames spreading, always keep them closed. Close all doors when you go to bed. Any closed door will slow down smoke from spreading. • Plan fire escape routes for your family and keep them clear at all times. • Check electrical equipment regularly, faulty electrical equipment is a common cause of fires. • Stay safe from fire by testing smoke alarms monthly and be sure all the family know how to escape in the event of a fire. • If you have a hard wired Smoke Alarm, fitted by A1 Housing. You must allow access to Contractors who will carry out an annual service. • Do not leave rubbish or anything that can burn outside your home where it could be set on fire. • Do not leave portable heaters near furniture or soft furnishings or where they could be knocked over. 10
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Chip pan fires can be put out with a damp cloth or by covering with the lid. Turn off the heat first. Leave for 30 minutes before removing the cloth or lid. Do not put water on burning fat or anything electrical.
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Check for safety before going to bed. Switch off electrical appliances and check gas appliances.
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Smoking is dangerous. People die through throwing away cigarettes, pipes, matches and lighters carelessly in the home. Never leave them unattended when lit. Never smoke when tired especially in bed.
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Only empty ash trays when cold.
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Do not dry or store clothing or bedding or anything else on your central heating boiler.
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Do not store flammable materials such as paint in the heater cupboard. This could cause a fire.
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Keep enclosed Communal areas in blocks of flats clear of items
If you feel you or your family are vulnerable to the risk of Fire then contact Notts Fire and Rescue by filling out a House Safety check referral form via this link-http://www.notts-fire.gov. uk/362CF2DBF8184FA0A8A6E350DA88EB80.asp
Or contact the admin team on 0800 022 3235
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Electricity Fuses • Always use the correct fuse for the appliance, as shown in the Manufacturers instructions. The wattage (W) ratings should be listed on the appliance. • Always use the smallest fuse possible. Too big a fuse can damage equipment if it develops a fault. Contact A1Electrical section, for guidance if unsure. Plugs and sockets • A single electric socket can only cope with a total of 2kw - for example, a one-bar fire and a kettle. It is dangerous to overload it. • Plugs must always be wired carefully so you can’t see any of the coloured wires. • Every appliance must have it’s own plug. Never push wires directly into a socket. • Don’t plug appliances into light fittings. Always plug them into a socket. • Put covers over unused sockets to stop children pushing anything inside. You can buy them from most DIY and electrical stores. • Do not use tape to mend or join electric wires.
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Flexes and extensions An extension lead should only be used when it is not possible to reach a wall socket with the equipment cable. When the use of an extension cable is unavoidable – follow these simple suggestions: • Always check that leads, plugs and sockets are undamaged. • Keep flexes away from heat sources such as cookers and fires. • Make sure flexes run straight, are not kinked and are not damaged. • Uncoil extension leads fully, removing knots and kinks before use to stop them overheating. • Always check the extension lead plug contains the correctly rated fuse for the equipment being used. • Never use an extension lead in a bathroom.
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And a few more points for your safety... • You must not change any part of your home’s electrical system without permission from your Housing Officer. • If permission is granted you must use an approved electrician, or call A1 Housings Heating, Mechanical and Electrical Team on 01909 535 131 • Use an approved electrician, for all electrical work. • If you buy second-hand equipment, check it is safe before you use it. • Always read and follow the instructions provided with any electrical equipment. • Do not touch switches and plugs with wet hands – you could get a shock. • Check flexes and appliances regularly for damage, loose connections, etc.
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Gas •
If not handled properly, gas can present real dangers. Gas leaks can lead to explosions. Gas appliances that are not working correctly can produce poisonous fumes that cannot be sensed by smell or taste.
• A1 Housing goes to great lengths to ensure that all Council gas appliances work safely. Your assistance is essential. •
A1 Housing services all Council gas appliances every year and will provide a certificate to confirm that the appliance is safe to use.
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You must arrange to have your own gas appliances serviced. This includes cookers as well as any additional heating appliances you have in your home.
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You must give the A1 Housing engineers access to your home to carry out the annual service. This applies to all properties where gas is being used even if the only gas appliances in your home belong to you. We still need to check the gas supply pipework. We will take firm action against anyone who does not co-operate and allow access for this work.
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All work to gas appliances must be carried out by a competent GAS SAFE registered installer. This applies to any heaters, cookers, controls, pipe-work, flues, air vents or other equipment associated with gas appliances.
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If your home has an instant gas water heater, make sure that the room is well ventilated and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using it.
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Portable gas heaters can be particularly dangerous. A1 Housing only allow the use of one portable appliance and written permission must be granted. If you do have one, make sure that it is in good condition and that it is used, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, suitable for it’s intended use within your home and that you have it serviced every year.
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Rotating, ceiling fans can interfere with natural ventilation which gas appliances need. They can stop the flue functioning properly and pull dangerous carbon monoxide fumes back into the room. Ceiling fans cannot be installed in rooms with gas appliances.
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DO NOT block any airbricks or vents. These may be providing air that is vital for the safe operation of a gas appliance. Do not block them up on the inside of your home or obstruct them on the outside with sheds, plants or shrubs etc.
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Make sure that your kitchen is well ventilated by opening a window when using your gas cooker.
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Consider buying a carbon monoxide detector, they are now relatively cheap and freely available. Ensure it is fitted to Manufacturers instructions.
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DIY gas work is against the law. Don’t let anyone do any work to the gas appliances in your home unless they have the right certificates of competence and are CORGI registered.
• Faulty gas appliances can produce carbon monoxide fumes these are poisonous and can kill. If you suspect some problems with the gas supply or your appliances, for example:• Sooty marks or yellow/brown stains around an appliance. • Increased condensation in a room with a working gas appliance. • An appliance burning with a yellow or orange flame not a blue flame. • Pilot light frequently going out. Switch off the appliance and contact us immediately. If you smell gas you should contact National Grid straight away on 0800 111 999
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Balconies and Landings Children should never be left alone on balconies and landings. • Make sure there is nothing that children can climb on such as gates, chairs and pot plants kept out on a balcony. • Keep the balcony door locked with the key close by, but out of reach of children. • Keep your balcony clean and make sure there is nothing on it that could fall or be thrown on to people below. • Heavy items such as aerials or satellite dishes fixed to a balcony could make it unstable and dangerous. Check first with your Housing Officer. • Escape routes to balconies or landings must always be kept clear. • Report defects immediately - for example, loose fixings, loose or cracked concrete or rotting timber. • Enclosing balconies can cause ventilation and safety problems. Get permission from your local Area Housing Office before starting such work. • In your own home make sure the stairs and landings are kept clear at all times so there is nothing for people to fall over. 20
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• Stair carpets that are worn or loose can cause a serious accident. • Stairs, hand-rails and banisters need to be in good condition and should not be altered or removed. Report any faults to our contact centre on, 0800 590 542. • The stairs are a vital escape route if there is a fire - do not store any flammable or dangerous materials near them (petrol, meths, gas cylinders, etc). • Be aware that painting steps can make them very slippery. • Never put anything on the stairs that you could fall, slip or trip on. In communal areas... • Do not cause any obstructions or dangers with things like tables or loose mats. • Get permission from your Housing Officer before doing any decorating i.e. Christmas decorations. • Do not wedge open fire doors or doors fitted with security systems.
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Windows and Glazing Windows If you have any window safety catches, make sure they are secure and working properly, particularly if you live in a highrise block. Do not change them or remove them. • Report any broken glass immediately. • Always use the handles to open or close windows - never push on the glass. • If you can’t open a window because it is stuck or faulty, contact the repairs service on 0800 590 542. • If you want to change any windows, glass doors or other glazing, you must get permission first from your local Area Housing Office. • Keep any chairs, boxes, large plant pots and other things that children could climb on away from windows. • Proper ventilation is important for your health and safety, make sure windows can be opened and vents are not blocked up or closed. • If one of your windows is for fire escape, make sure you can use it in an emergency. Tell everyone in the family where the keys are. • Try not to position a bed under the window where a child could use it to climb out. 22
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Doors Make sure your doors, especially the outer doors, are in good condition, including the locks and hinges • Tell everyone in the family where the keys are. Keep a spare key in a safe place. There could be a charge if we have to change the lock. • Close all doors when you go to bed or go out. This stops fire spreading. • Door stops or a towel over the top of the door will prevent it closing on children’s fingers. • You must get permission from your local Area Housing Office before altering any doors or door frames. • Fire doors or doors with an entry system must not be wedged open. • Always use the handles to open or close glazed doors - do not push on the glass.
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Rubbish Please store and dispose of your rubbish carefully to avoid problems for your neighbours and collection staff. • Dispose of bulky items (furniture, carpets, big boxes, etc) by contacting in the appropriate manner. Don’t just dump them. • Ask your chemist or doctor’s surgery to dispose of unused medicines, pills or syringes. • Sharp objects like glass and syringes must be disposed of correctly - not in rubbish sacks. • Do not leave rubbish sacks on landings or corridors. • If you over-fill rubbish sacks, they will not fit into the chutes. Most waste can be taken to waste recycling centres for disposal Retford Recycling CentreHallcroft Road, Retford,DN22 7LE Worksop Recycling CentreShireoaks Road, Worksop S80 3HA
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Building Work From time to time A1 Housing will need to carry out repairs and improvements to your home and the area around it. Your co-operation will help to make sure this work is completed safely. • A building site is not a playground, so children must be kept away. They need to understand how dangerous a building site can be. • Don’t let children climb on scaffolding. • If temporary fencing or boarding round the site is damaged, please contact the contractor or ring us on 0800 590 542. • On large building schemes the contractors doing the work usually employ a liaison officer to explain what is happening. They will be able to tell you where they will be working and how long it will take. All staff working for A1 Housing have identity cards with their photographs and will expect to show them to you. If they do not have an ID card, do not let them into your home, but report them to us, please ring 0800 590 542. If you want to carry out your own building work. Permission must be granted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer and Building Control prior to work starting.
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Asbestos
Some of our properties contain asbestos as part of the material used in the building. Examples are ceiling artex, insulation, weatherproofing and wall cladding. These items are not dangerous if they are sealed, in good condition and left undisturbed. However, you are at risk if they are disturbed or damaged drilling, cutting or breakage.
A1 Housing has carried out surveys on approximately 70% of its property stock. We are slowly removing all Asbestos form properties we deem to have degraded over the years. Over the next 5 years we will carry out a survey of all of our homes for our Decent Homes Programme. When we do this we will check the condition of any asbestos in your home. We will keep a record of what we find and remove it, if this is necessary. If you have a building material in your home that you think may contain asbestos, look for signs of damage or dust being released by the material.
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If any asbestos found is in good condition and not worn or damaged, it can be left in place. Added protection can be given by painting and sealing the surface, but remember to use an alkali-resistant primer for asbestos cement products. If the asbestos is damaged or or giving off dust, please contact A1 Housing immediately. If you want to carry out any DIY such as drilling boards to fix shelves, removing ducts or bath panels, and you are unsure about what type of board or wall it is, you must contact us. Asbestos is safe if it is not damaged. It can be painted, but do not cut it, scrape it or drill into it. • If it is damaged in any way, it needs to be removed and disposed of properly. You should contact us on, 0800 590 542 if you see a problem. If you have already removed or disturbed any building products that may contain Asbestos, please double wrap this in plastic bags and tape closed. This can be collected by A1 Housing and disposed of correctly for a small fee. DO NOT, under any circumstances, put waste asbestos in your wheelie bin or a general builder’s skip. Please call 0800 590 542 for collection and a quote
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Outside your home Keep your garden, paths, fences and any outside buildings (garages, sheds and greenhouses) tidy and in good repair so they are not a danger to others. • It is dangerous and against your tenancy conditions to leave cars on jacks or bricks in your garden. • PONDS. You need special permission before they are built. They must be securely fenced off. • BROKEN GLASS in greenhouses, sheds and garages should be replaced. • PORTABLE EQUIPMENT. When using electrical appliances outdoors, use a residual circuit device to reduce the risk of electrocution.
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Child Safety
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Keep the following well out of the reach of children; • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Knives and sharp objects. Handles of hot pans. Hot water. Hot drinks and tea pots. Naked flames. Matches and lighters. Dangerous household items such as bleach and cleaning materials. Gas fires and hot pipes (use a fireguard or safety gate). Hot hair rollers, tongs, irons, kettles and their flexes. Medicines and alcohol. Consider installing child safety gates on the stairs. If the telephone rings or something else distracts you, always take children with you. Keep children away from cookers and washing machines when in use. Never leave young children alone on balconies or in rooms with insecure windows. Never put chemicals, such as bleach or cleaning materials, into pop bottles. Never leave young children unattended in the bath.
Please note: A1 Housing staff will not enter a property where children under 16. We may have to however, contact the appropriate Authorities if we think children are at risk years have been left unsupervised. tel: 0800 590 542 | 31
Emergencies Water Leaks If you find a serious water leak, turn the supply off at the mains tap immediately. It is usually under the sink but sometimes it can be somewhere else. Make sure you know where the mains water stop tap is located. • If the water leak could come into contact with anything electrical, switch the electricity off at the mains as well. • Turn on all the taps in the kitchen and bathroom to drain the pipes more quickly. • Keep children away from the water if it is hot. • Switch off the central heating system if that is the problem. • Report it to the repairs service immediately on, 0800 590 542. Water Safety If you have been away from home for more than a few days, on your return, run both the hot and cold water taps for around 2 minutes before using them. This should get rid of any Legionnella bacteria that may have built up in the pipes. Run the cold water to remove any standing water in the system and run the hot taps at a high temperature to kill off any bacteria. If you have a shower, run that for about two minutes at a high temperature as well. Also flush the toilet. 32
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Fire Take account of the needs of the elderly, the disabled and children. Make sure everyone leaves the property safely before calling the fire brigade. • Do not put water on anything electrical or on burning fat, such as in a chip pan. • Keeping doors closed stops fire spreading. Close all doors when you go to bed. If the door into a room where there is a fire is hot or scorched, do not open it. Test the door with the back of your hand. • If you cannot see where you are going, keep the back of one hand against a wall and move the other one up and down in front of you as you walk. • If it is difficult to breathe, lie flat on the floor where there is always a layer of air and crawl on your arms, knees and toes. • If you have to jump from an upstairs window try to throw something soft like a mattress out first to land on. • Don’t waste time collecting any belongings - it could be fatal. Nothing is as precious as your life.
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Emergencies Gas Leaks If you smell gas, or suspect there is a gas escape, you should immediately do the following: • Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve. Call National Grid (Gas) on the Gas Emergency freephone number 0800 111 999 and A1 Housing on 0800 590 542. • Open all doors and windows. • Do no use a naked flame. • Do not use electrical switches, including light switches. • In the case of suspected carbon monoxide leakage, follow the above procedure. • Do not use a mobile phone. The gas supply must only be reconnected and appliances recommissioned by a suitably qualified engineer.
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Electrical Isolate loose or faulty switches, plugs or sockets. Turn off the supply to the circuit, unplug appliance and contact us. Don’t touch bare wires or wet fittings. Adaptations Team: 01909 533 379 Need help accessing our services? Hard of hearing? All our offices have induction loops. Just ask at reception. We can provide loops for meetings if you let us know in advance. Interpreters - If your first language isn’t English we can provide an interpreter either over the phone or in person. Visual impairment - We can provide you with information in large print, audio or Braille. USEFUL EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS 24 hour Repairs Service Gas Leaks Electricity Water Severn Trent Anglian Water
0800 590 542 0800 111 999 Contact your supplier 0800 783 4444 0800 145 145
Police, Fire and Ambulance Emergencies only 999 Local Police 01909 500 999 Local Fire Brigade 01909 485 616 01777 706 607 tel: 0800 590 542 | 35
Who might Contact us get help? 0800 590 542 www.a1housing.co.uk customer.services@a1housing.co.uk Text us on 07860 021 511 Visit us at: Retford Property Shop Town Hall, 17B The Square, Retford DN22 6DB Worksop Property Shop Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop S80 2AH Head Office - Carlton Forest House Hundred Acre Lane, Worksop S81 0TS All officers are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
If you need any help communicating with us or understanding any of our documents, please contact us on 0800 590 542. We can arrange for a copy of this document in large print, audiotape, Braille or for a Language Line interpreter to help you.
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