Protect Your Home

In order to protect your home, there are steps you can take to ensure you keep your family, your belongings and your house safe from incidents which could occur if you don't keep yourself safe. Being aware of your surroundings and being careful could make a huge difference if something were to happen in your home. Follow the following advice as a guide;

  • Install smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them once a week; remember 'Test It Tuesday' to remind you each week, just as you would remember each week to put your bin out. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year. For further advice on smoke alarms, see South Wales Fire & Rescue Service. If you live in Wales, your local fire and rescue service is offering you a free smoke alarm and installation service.
  • Consider installing a carbon monoxide detector.
  • In the event of a fire, you must get everyone out of the house, so keep the exits from your home clear so that people can escape. Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find keys for doors and windows.
  • Take extra care in the kitchen — accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
  • Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that does not burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
  • Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and disposed of carefully, and never smoke in bed.
  • Get into the habit of closing doors at night. If you want to keep a child's bedroom door open, close the doors to the lounge and kitchen — it may well help save their life if there is a fire.
  • Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember: one plug for one socket.
  • Keep matches and lighters where children can't see or reach them.
  • Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when not in use.
  • Sign up to OWL, which provides the latest messages and crime alerts along with management tools for starting and maintaining watches.