Here is some safety information to publish in your next magazine. Please feel free to get in touch if you need any further information.
Stay fire safe while enjoying the summer weather!

Staying safe outside is just as important as keeping your family safe from fire in your home.

As the Summer weather hopefully continues many will take the opportunity to get out in the garden and give it a tidy. There are a few simple things to do which will help reduce the risk of having a fire:

• Dispose of garden waste using either a local waste pick up service, or take it to a local recycling centre. Do not light a bonfire!
• Ensure cigarettes are completely out
• Do not leave glass bottles lying on the ground – the sun’s rays reflect through the glass and can start a fire.

If you are planning to have a BBQ:

• Use barbeques on a hard, flat surface away from grass, shrubs or fencing
• Put disposable barbeques on bricks, do not place directly on grass.

Don’t be tempted to swim in open water!

When the weather is hot and sunny it might tempt people into swimming in open water.

It might nice and warm, but the water temperature can still be very cold, which could cause cold water shock making it difficult to swim to safety. The water might also be deeper than it looks, with hidden dangers under the surface.

We know water is tempting when it’s warm outside and as friends gather looking for something to do it can seem great fun. But the fun can quickly turn to tragedy and that is what we are trying to prevent by ensuring everyone understands the risks and hidden dangers.

As much as we discourage people from doing so, we are aware that people will decide to swim in open water. If you get into difficulty, you should “Float to Live”, by leaning back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat, and try and control your breathing. Once calm, either call for help or try and swim to safety.

Also a really useful tip to help pinpoint your location is giving us a what3words reference. This is easy to do by downloading the app before heading out and encouraging everyone in your group to do the same, making a note of where you’re swimming. The app is free and available to download on any mobile device.