Fire safety advice for the elderly at home

We are all taught basic fire safety precautions from a young age, but there is no harm in refreshing your elderly loved-one’s memory, especially if they are often at home alone. Here are our top tips:

Fit smoke alarms

All elderly people’s homes should be fitted with working smoke alarms on each floor. These should all have the British Standard number BS5446 and the Kitemark. They should be tested regularly.

Elderly people with hearing loss can get a smoke alarm that vibrates, which can be placed under a pillow at night.

Your loved-one’s local fire service will offer a free smoke alarm and installation service, as well as a home safety check and advice.

Use fireguards on open flames

If your loved-one has an open fire, make sure they have a fire guard in place to stop any embers from catching on carpets or other items around the fireplace.

Be emissions safe

You can buy a test that tells you whether or not your fire is safe in terms of emissions. You can get more information and advice on this here.

Don’t overload electric sockets

Electricity sockets can give off sparks if they’re overloaded, so it’s important to unplug anything that is not in use. Unplug everything at night and make sure switches are off.

Never leave open flames unattended

If a loved-one is cooking on gas, ensure they don’t leave any pans unattended and make sure everything is completely switched off after use. They should also never leave fireplaces, candles or cigarettes unattended.

Our carers who will be popping in to provide care to your loved-one will always be on the lookout for any fire hazards and will report back any concerns. They’re also able to check and change smoke alarm batteries, and provide any assistance your loved-one might need when it comes to making sure their home is safe.