Safety in a heatwave

Safety in a heatwave advice

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is asking the public to keep fire safety at the front of their minds during a heatwave. The Service has had a busy time dealing with wildfires and fires that have spread quickly due to the hot and dry weather. Area Manager Neil Fenwick said: “Summer is a busy time for us and we need your help to prevent accidental fires. With the weather being so hot and dry, it’s much easier than usual for a fire to start. “First of all, please do not have any bonfires or any campfires. Vegetation in fields and trees at the moment are dangerously dry and bonfires and campfires could quite easily spread into fields. On 23rd July 2022, Firefighters were called to the scene of a large field fire in Church Road, Ongar just after 1pm. Around four hectares - or 40,000 square metres - of standing corn were alight. Smoke could be seen from some distance away. Firefighters worked hard to surround the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Advice was given to people living and working in the local area to keep your windows and doors closed. Shortly at 3pm, with thanks to the the incredible hard work of firefighting crews, the fire was under control. Photo and information Courtesy of Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

“Not only can they spread along the ground but they can spread quite easily through embers up in the air and travel great distances to be able to start elsewhere. We saw this on a few occasions over a weekend where embers from bonfires and barbecues that had not fully cooled had been picked up in the breeze and caught sheds, decking and even houses alight, making a couple of families homeless. “If you do want to have a barbecue, please make sure you barbecue safely - set barbecues up well away from sheds, trees and fences etc and stay with your barbecue at all times until it has fully cooled. “Please don't use disposable barbecues on the ground, the ground is just too dry and these can quickly turn into wildfires. Pack a picnic instead.” With the risk of wildfires being high, the Fire Service is advising against using fireworks or sky lanterns as part of any celebra-

Neil also said: “Another big cause of fires in hot and dry weather is discarded cigarettes. These are often thrown out of windows or dropped on the floor without a thought, but they can smoulder and catch the tinder dry grass alight quite quickly. “Make sure all cigarettes are properly stubbed out before you dispose of them.” “Please stay safe out there and remember the fire crews and control staff that were working through this hot period to keep you safe.” For more safety advice, visit: essex-fire.gov.uk/ staysafe

My experience of being a member of a local business network group

Being a member of Epping Forest Business Group for the past 3 years has helped me in so many ways. Not only do I have a platform to share my business...gaining new clients and referrals regularly but also utilizing the professionalism in the group. Meeting regularly every week on a Thursday morning for breakfast allows us to build that trust, promoting each other through word of mouth or other networking opportunities. I have utilised the expertise in the group..... BLT Catering supply AbFabfit Club food to our members...macro tracked and healthy..portion sized too! Arhon from Consider Local (current chair) tends to my website on a regular basis keeping SEO updated and working effectively. Malcolm from Abbey Print Consultancy prints our recipe books & nutrition guides cost effective and reliable. Gary (GKP Legal & Wealth) has finally sorted out my 'will' after years of procrastination! We really support each other too - for example..I recently ran an 'ad copy' workshop assisting other members of EFBG hone their ad copy in a way that has helped my business 'AbFabFit Club' grow successfully on social media. Each member brings their expertise to support the other members. If you work from home and haven't tried The Epping Connection then I totally recommend booking in and working productively from Epping High Street...great coffee and FREE too! EFBG grows with you....Trusting | Promoting | Collaborating | Learning Source: Jaine—AbFabFit Club. Local gyms and fitness classes

Using technology for better working

During the lockdowns we experienced over 2020 and 2021, there was an unexpected advancement in people having to use technology for personal use (remember all those Zoom calls?), as well as for work productivity.

We were going to use technology more pre-pandemic, so what we’ve experienced is an acceleration of when that was likely to tip further into mainstream use.

Even so, there are many apps and tools you could be using for better work if you’re not using them already.

Do you have a busy work schedule and regularly liaising with people on times to meet? Use Calendly to help you do this. It integrates with your digital calendar, you select what length of time you want most meetings to happen, and then send the link for people to select the right time for them. You get a notification of the confirmed meeting and it appears in your calendar as if by magic.

Are you trying to produce good looking designs? Try using Canva. It’s a great free-to-use tool, with a lot of templates for designing things like posters, presentations and social media designs. The images are free to use, and you can download your creations and use in any way you need.

Lastly, if you’re used to working collaboratively with others, where you share ideas and have regular brainstorming sessions, then use a tool like Google Jamboard. It’s a free tool from Google, and is great for online collaboration. It’s like having a whiteboard that you can add post it notes to, and you do it at the same time as your coworkers and collaborators.

Sukhvinder Pabial Owner and Operator of The Epping Connection – Epping’s first coworking

Do you or someone you know struggle with using technology or online services?

As part of the community hub based in Civic Offices (previously Epping Forest District Council Offices), there is a range of digital support on offer from friendly and experienced staff, delivered by Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) and Mind in West Essex, to help with using digital technology and online services.

They can help and provide support on a range of topics including: • Completing online forms • Video chat i.e., Zoom or Microsoft Teams • Online banking • Shopping • Managing health appointments

This help is available every Thursday from 9.30am – 12.30pm. There is no need to book an appointment.

For further information about Digital Support contact, you can contact Phoenix Boreham, Mind in West Essex, telephone 07549 03414 or Email pboreham@mindinwestessex.o rg.uk

Make sure your vehicle is insured

You may be surprised to learn that during June, 255 vehicles seized by Essex Police for having no vehicle insurance and driving licence offences. Please remember it is an offence to drive without insurance or to drive without appropriate supervision if you only have a provisional driving licence. It is not only you that could be injured.

Please don’t forget to Mention to advertisers that you saw their advert in North Weald Village Life