Keeping Your Home Fire Safe
People living with dementia might not be able to respond quickly to a fire in the home, which is why it is very important that you have a plan in place before an emergency happens! Dementia can make it hard to recognise a dangerous situation so carers like you need extra support making the home fire safe. I remember my Nan who was living with dementia walking around the house with a lighter she found outside and being quite fascinated by the flame - not a very safe situation.
Keeping the home fire safe means thinking about emergency escape plans, having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and knowing who to call if a fire does start. You can also get plenty of free support from the Fire Brigade. You can complete a Home Fire Safety Checker (linked below) and then access further support if necessary to make sure your home is as safe as possible.
Resources
Home Fire Safety Checker - To see if your home is fire safe
This online form only takes a few minutes to complete and is free to do. You can do it on your phone or your laptop. If you don’t know the answers to some questions, you can skip them so don’t worry if you aren’t sure!
Completing this checker helps the fire brigade determine if you might need them to come and visit for a Home Fire Safety Visit. This is where they walk through the home with you and identify risks and ways to make the home more fire safe.
Click the LFB Logo to learn more
Fire Risk Checklist - For assessing someone you care for
This checklist helps you, as a carer, identify whether someone might be at greater risk in the event of a fire. It looks at whether there are factors that make them less able to respond to a smoke alarm like cognitive issues, or visual/ hearing impairments. Questions also assess whether the person smokes, has specialised medical equipment at home, or uses candles. It also asks about fire safety equipment already fitted in the home such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
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Fire Safety for Carers
This brilliant page has lots of information for supporting family carers, social workers, and support workers. There are links to helpful resources, including specialist information on hoarding behaviours, use of medical equipment at home, and specialist alarms to make sure the person you care for is safe even if they have trouble hearing.
Click the LFB Logo to learn more