Stay safe this winter Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to take simple steps to protect themselves from accidental fires and carbon monoxide poisoning while keeping warm and cutting energy use this winter. The call comes following concerns from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) that the cost of living rise will mean people could turn to alternative ways of heating and lighting their homes. For people most at risk of fire or with concerns about fire safety in their home, we offer a free home fire safety visit. You can book a visit for yourself or for someone you know at: www.essex-fire.gov.uk/book or by calling 0300 303 0088. To help keep you safe: • Check any heating appliances are in good working order and not subject to a product recall by checking the Office for Product Safety and Standards website for any alerts or recalls: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-productsafety-and-standards •
Place flammable items like furniture and drying clothes well away from heaters and fires Use the correct fuel for woodburning stoves and open fires – to reduce the risk of toxic fumes, chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning
•
Check your escape routes are clear from clutter and items like portable heaters are not blocking them
•
If possible, don’t skip servicing of boilers and gas appliances by a Gas Safe engineer to prevent gas leaks and CO poisoning. Landlords must arrange for an annual gas safety check in rented accommodation.
•
Crucial Crew 2022 More than 900 pupils from 21 schools across Epping Forest District took part in this year’s virtual Crucial Crew.
Now in its 18th year the event aims to educate Year 6 children on child exploitation in its many forms before they take the big step into secondary school. The format involves watching a thoughtprovoking film followed by an interactive workshop looking at how young peoples’ decisions could change the outcome of the film’s story. Themes such as gang crime, grooming and County Lines drug activity were discussed to raise awareness of the wrong decisions being made in the film and highlighting the warning signs and how to stay safe. Cllr Aniket Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Community Partnerships said: The Council is committed to supporting local children and young people to stay safe and well by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make positive choices in life. It’s particularly encouraging that we have been able to continue Crucial Crew, albeit in a different format, for all this time, helping equip thousands of our young people for the challenges they face. Page 18
Tel: 07814 863955
Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
www.northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
