Home safety

Take care of your alarms to ensure they work correctly.

• vacuum your alarms with a soft brush vacuum nozzle every three months and wipe over with a damp cloth to remove any dust
• replace the whole unit after 10 years
• for non-sealed battery-operated alarms, change the batteries once a year
• never take the batteries out of your alarm to use in another electrical item. An alarm without batteries cannot warn you if a fire starts

• a smoke alarm is a warning device that detects smoke at the earliest stages of a fire
• a heat alarm is a warning device that detects an increase in temperature from a fire
• heat alarms are more suitable for detecting fires in kitchens or other rooms where steam, fumes or moisture could cause nuisance alarms in smoke alarms
• when a smoke or heat alarm detects a fire, it will make a piercing noise to alert or wake you. There are alternative systems for those who are dDeaf
• some detectors can be wirelessly interlinked throughout your home
• many people killed in house fires are asleep at the time
• a smoke or heat alarm can wake you up and give you vital extra time to escape

Smoke alarms cost around £30 and are available from DIY stores, electrical shops and high-street retailers.

There are different types of smoke alarms available. Some use optical sensor technology and are typically more effective at detecting slow burning fires. Others use ionisation sensor technology which are typically more effective at detecting fast, flaming fires. Multi sensor alarms are also available.

If possible, fit an optical multi sensor smoke alarm with a ten-year life span. Buying an alarm with a sealed battery compartment will help to prevent tampering or removal of the battery. Whichever model you choose, look out for one which has a British Standard Kitemark symbol.

Accidental exposure to CO kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. It can kill without warning, sometimes in a matter of minutes. Low levels that don’t kill you can still cause serious harm.

There are many ways to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning, such as:

• fit an audible CO alarm that meets European Standard EN 50291, showing a British Standards Kitemark or LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) logo
• make sure that you follow the alarm manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance
• you can also buy CO detection patches and ‘black-spot’ indicators, but these will not wake you and warn you if dangerous levels of CO develop
• have all appliances, flues and chimneys correctly installed and serviced by trained, reputable, registered and competent engineers – do not attempt to do this yourself
• if you're going on holiday you may wish to take a battery-operated audible CO alarm with you

CO poisoning can be difficult to detect, because its symptoms are the same as those of many other common ailments. You may experience:

• headaches
• tiredness
• difficulty thinking clearly
• feeling sick

Sometimes it may feel as though you have food poisoning or that you are coming down with flu. You may also notice that the symptoms are less severe if you are away from your property.

Those most vulnerable to the effects of CO poisoning are:

• older people
• pregnant women and their babies
• children
• those with breathing problems or heart disease

Carbon monoxide poisoning in NHS choices website

 If you think you may have a CO leak you should:

• turn off all appliances that use fuel other than electricity
• open the windows  
• leave the room
• see a doctor at once
• call a suitably qualified engineer to check all your appliances
• if you rent a property, your landlord should be able to assist in resolving the matter  

Heating appliances must be able to ‘breathe’ in order to function efficiently, whatever type of fuel they burn. They require a constant and sufficient flow of air, so make sure the room is not completely airtight. If you have draught-proofing or double glazing fitted you may need vents or air bricks in an exterior wall of the room. Also follow these safety tips:

• never block air bricks or vents, or the outside grille of a flue
• make sure new water heaters in a bathroom are fitted to a balanced flue
• if you fit an extractor fan or hood, make sure it doesn’t suck toxic fumes back down flues or chimneys
• have your gas or oil fired boiler serviced and the flue checked once a year

1. stop: don't run, as your clothes will burn faster
2. drop: lie down. This makes it harder for the fire to spread, especially to your face and head as flames burn upwards
3. roll: this smothers the flames. You can also use heavy material like a coat or blanket to smother flames

Smoke alarms should be tested and working. 

You need at least one working alarm in the hallway leading the way out of the home. 

With more electrical items now found in living rooms and bedrooms, we strongly advise that you install smoke alarms here too. 

Smoke alarms should be located in any habitable room such as; living rooms, bedrooms, utilities and studies, and should be interlinked. 

Alarms have improved over the years and you can now get battery operated ones that can be interlinked with each other with no need for wires. 

You can find them at most hardware stores or online.

Look while you cook:

• stand by your pan and don’t get distracted or leave it unattended
• take care when consuming alcohol, as you can become drowsy and fall asleep when cooking

Faulty electrics or appliances have caused over 32% of fires in homes in Jersey. Make sure you:

• avoid using appliances overnight when you are sleeping. Fires take longer to be discovered and your family is at risk

Appliances can be defective and manufacturers will recall these items. To receive information if your appliances are recalled, register your white goods

Before you go to bed:

• turn off any electrics at the socket that are not being used
• don’t overload sockets
• don’t turn on your washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers overnight
• close internal doors at night

Whilst you may be at home with the children, get together as a family and make an escape plan. 

Make sure everyone in the house knows the escape plan and you practice it.

If any gas or electrical appliances, pipes or wires have been affected by fire, it may be necessary to isolate the supply. In addition to this, it may be necessary for the service provider to disconnect the supply. If you are unsure, contact your provider for advice. All repairs to gas, water and electrical fixtures should be carried out by a suitably qualified engineer.

Do not be tempted to turn on any isolated supply until it is safe to do so and following the advice of an engineer.

• call your insurance company's (24 hour) emergency helpline as soon as possible. They will be able to provide information on dealing with your claim and provide assistance in getting things back to normal
• your insurers may wish to inspect the damage before you remove items from your property
• if emergency or temporary repairs are required, you should keep the invoices or receipts for these to help with any future insurance claim
• if you are not the owner of the property, buildings insurance claims will normally be dealt with by the relevant housing department, association or your landlord
• your insurance company may require a fire report

The Fire and Rescue Service produces a report on every incident they attend. This report may be made available upon written request. The administration fee for the preparation and issue of a fire report is £672. 

When would a fire be subject to an in-depth investigation?

All fire reports completed by the Fire and Rescue Service contain information as to the most likely cause of the fire. If this is not immediately clear, specialist fire investigators from the Fire and Rescue Service may be called in to conduct a more detailed investigation.

This may involve:

• interviewing people at the scene of the fire
• a thorough and detailed examination of the fire scene and debris
• taking photographic evidence

In the course of their duties, specialist Fire and Rescue Service fire investigation officers may liaise with loss adjusters, insurance companies and other specialists to assist in settling claims and determining the cause of a fire.