Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is supporting No Smoking Day 2010 and giving yet more reasons to quit on Wednesday 10 March 2010 and beyond. Smoking related fires are one of the biggest causes of accidental home fires.
The best way to reduce risk is to give up smoking completely but for those finding it difficult to give up the habit, the advice from the fire service is to be cautious and after finishing a cigarette ‘put it out, right out.’
Dan Tickle, Chief Executive of the charity No Smoking Day, which organises the annual event said: “Good luck to all the smokers in Devon and Somerset who are breaking free on March 10 - remember you are not alone. Take advantage of the support available - you’ll get friendly and expert advice to help you to stop smoking for good.”
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service will be present at Newton Abbot’s Farmers' Market on Tuesday 9 March between 9am and 3pm to offer its support to Devon’s NHS Stop Smoking campaign. The Service will also be on hand to give out advice and leaflets on the dangers of smoking in the home as well as more general home safety advice.
For smokers ready to give up it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire in the home:
• Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is properly extinguished.
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It is very easy to fall asleep when your cigarette is still burning.
• Never smoke in bed – if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.
• Never leave lit cigarettes, pipes or cigars unattended. They may overbalance as they burn down.
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily.
• Tap your ash into an ashtray not a wastebasket containing other rubbish.
• Don’t let ends and ash build up in the ashtray.
• Fit and maintain smoke alarms – a smoke alarm can give you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.
• Arrange for a free Home Safety Visit.
For a free Home Safety Visit please phone: 0800 73 11 822 (free).
For further information on fire safety go to www.direct.gov.uk/firekills
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Note to editors:
From the period 1 April 2009 to 31 December 2009 there were 49 accidental smoking related incidents (according to Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service statistics).
On Thursday 25 February at 1.30pm at Newton Abbot Fire Station there will be an opportunity to interview and take photos of fire crew, stop smoking advisors and ‘Big Cig’ (giant cigarette!).
For more information please phone Lindsay Mears, Press Officer on 01392 872296 or email: lmears@dsfire.gov.uk
The event on 10 March is organised by the charity No Smoking Day. It has been running for 27 years. For more information and advice on giving up smoking visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk
In Devon phone NHS Stop Smoking Service on 01884 836024 or email stopsmoking.devonpct@nhs.net to arrange to see an advisor in your area.
In Somerset phone 0844 5689840 or email stopsmoking@somerset.nhs.uk
For more information visit www.somersetstopsmoking.nhs.uk
or text MYQUIT to 80010
