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If we said that you didn't have to shop for it,
didn't have to pay for it,
that we'd bring it round to your house,
and fit it for free,
and that it would need little maintenance for up to ten years,
would it sound too good to be true?
In which case, what price do you place on your own safety?
We're talking about these - smoke alarms.
They save lives.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service provide them for you.
How much does it cost?
Nothing for those deemed at greater risk of experiencing a fire. See www.merseyfire.gov.uk for more information.
Even the phone call is free.
Householders without a smoke alarm are four times more likely to die in
a fire than those who have one fitted.
I put my name down for them to come and see me.
She rang me up, and asked me could she could come visit me.
Very satisfied with what they've done.
By far the vast majority of fire deaths are amongst
those over 65 years of age. It was this discovery that proved the motivation for Merseyside Fire
and Rescue Service to take specific steps to protect this most vulnerable group of people.
Here at the Loop Call Centre Headquarters, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service not only
respond to requests for smoke alarms, but also actively promote free Home Safety checks
to Merseyside residents.
I'm just ringing up to let you know the local firefighters from the Old Swan station are going to be in your area on Tuesday morning.
They're doing some home fire risk assessments and also fitting smoke alarms free of charge.
It's not just about fitting smoke alarms, its about actually visiting
the property and assessing any risks that may be there and even advising on escape routes,
so it's an all round approach to fire safety.
This direct approach by Merseyside Fire and
Rescue Service is an amazing leap forward in fire safety, in fact by working in partnership
with communities across the region, they've addressed the whole area of home safety and
fire prevention in a unique and totally successful way.
There's been a massive campaign of home
fire risk assessments by firefighters in Merseyside, over a third of households have been visited
in the Merseyside area, over a quarter of a million smoke alarms have been fitted by
firefighters. There's been nothing on this scale anywhere else in the country.
Fire safety on Merseyside is a national success story with over 250,000 smoke detectors fitted
across 150,000 homes. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service are leading the way in home
safety and the benefits are very real.
We give fire safety advice,
because most fires start in the kitchen.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service provide a 10 year, maintenance free
smoke alarm. The battery is fully sealed within the unit, making it tamper proof and reliable.
It's this level of reliability, that allows the older, more vulnerable members of our
community to sleep safely in their beds.
It's working.
But fire prevention and the saving of lives is
not just about fitting smoke alarms. Its about successful communication and genuine teamwork
with partner organisations and services throughout the region.
We know fire has a social dimension,
we need to get to those people most at risk from fire, the elderly, the infirm, those
with mobility or sensory difficulties.
On Merseyside we believe that fire prevention
is an essential community service.
And that means having a Fire and Rescue Service that
is an essential part of the community.
There are fewer injuries from fire, there's fewer fires themselves,
fewer people are dying, perhaps 20 or more people are alive today in Merseyside as a result
of this campaign.
But this is no accident, firefighters in Merseyside through innovation
and creativity, have ensured Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is considered one of the
most forward thinking and advanced Services in the country. The initiatives and projects
that have been created are uncommon, if not unique in the UK Fire Service, and it's these
initiatives that will lead the fight against vulnerability.
All these initiatives are focussed on the needs of older people, and have been achieved through Merseyside Fire and Rescue
Service's ability to listen to those needs.
The need to feel safe, the need for independence, the need to feel valued.
They checked all my switches to see if everything was alright.
They looked at everything, to see whether everything was okay.
Because sometimes danger is not so immediate and apparent. Complacency,
ignorance and apathy are hidden causes of accidents and fire death. Especially amongst
the most vulnerable sections of our communities.
Nobody can doubt the training, the courage and the professionalism of these men and women,
but a partnership between you and your Fire Service,
can further reduce the chance for fires to destroy lives and homes.
It can start with a friendly phone call and one of these.
Very pleased with the attention that they gave me.
So I can go to bed now, and feel much safer.