Welcome to the UK
Being Healthy and Safe

2: Being Safe at Home

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Fire safety

  • Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and test them weekly to ensure they are working.

  • Plan and practice a fire escape route with everyone in your household, identifying two ways out of each room.

  • Keep exits clear of clutter and obstacles to ensure a quick and safe escape in case of a fire.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odourless, tasteless, invisible, flammable and very toxic gas, which can be emitted from the burning of any carbon-based fuel.

  • Around 30 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK.

    If you breathe even tiny amounts of CO it blocks your body from absorbing oxygen.

    If there is even just 2% CO in the air it can kill in 1 or 2 minutes.

    It is important to remember that burning carbon-based fuels is safe.

    It only becomes unsafe when the fuel is not burnt correctly, then an excess of CO is produced, which may escape into a living or working area.

    • A lack of air (ventilation) to ensure efficient combustion

    • A poor or no escape route to atmosphere for the products of combustion (fumes)

    What things can produce it?

    • Mains gas heating and cooking appliances

    • Bottled gas heating and cooking appliances

    • Solid fuel heating and cooking appliances

    • Oil heating appliances

    • LPG

    • Barbecues

    • Petrol / Diesel vehicles and boats

    • Generators

    • Gas appliances in caravans/boats/allotments

    • Bottled gas lighting, camping cookers

    • Paraffin burning appliances

    • Cigarettes

    • Use competent, qualified persons to carry out installation of equipment

    • Use and regularly maintain equipment to manufacturer’s instructions

    • Ensure adequate ventilation and keep ventilators clear

    • Install a CO alarm (see picture)

    Be aware of the danger signs:

    • Sooty marks around gas appliances, walls, ceiling, condensation inside of windows and on walls when an appliance is on

    • Yellow flames at the appliance burner. Signs of scorching on and around appliances

    • Pilot lights go out and slow burning solid fuel fires

    • Unexplained illness, headaches, nausea etc.

    • You may be able to smell some of the other products of combustion, which may have escaped into the room rather than gone up a chimney, (because it is partly blocked for example)

    • Sometimes people describe this smell as 'gassy' or ‘sooty’ and think there has been an escape from a gas supply pipe supplying natural gas to the house or appliance

    • You may find that pets pick up on the presence of CO – cats may leave the house and dogs can develop nausea and a sore throat!

  • GET OUT!

    • Turn off appliances

    • Ventilate

    • Evacuate if necessary

    • Call the Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999)

Gas appliances

  • Arrange for annual servicing of gas appliances by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure they are working safely and efficiently.

  • Familiarize yourself with the location of the gas meter and how to turn off the gas supply in case of an emergency.

  • If you notice any signs of a gas leak, such as a gas smell or hissing sound, do not use electrical switches or naked flames, open windows and doors, evacuate the property, and call the gas emergency helpline.

Electricity

  • Avoid overloading sockets by using only one plug per socket and unplugging appliances when not in use.

  • Check electrical cords and plugs regularly for signs of damage or wear and replace them if necessary.

  • Report any electrical faults or concerns to your landlord or housing provider immediately for inspection and repair.

Home security

  • Keep doors and windows locked when leaving your home or going to bed, and do not leave keys in obvious places.

  • Be cautious about letting strangers into your home, and always ask for identification before allowing access to maintenance workers or service providers.