Smoke safety

Sadly just over half of house fire fatalities we attend involve discarded smoking materials.

Smoking safety advice

• smoke outdoors
• never smoke in bed
• stub it out properly and dispose of carefully, use ashtrays and empty the cooled contents to an outside bin regularly
• never leave lit cigarettes or cigars unattended

E-cigarettes

• Never leave on charge or in a USB point unattended or overnight – they can ignite and cause fire.
• Replace the batteries in your vape if they get damaged or wet
• Store loose batteries for your vape in a case. Keep these away from metal objects such as coins and keys.
• Protect your vape from extreme temperatures
• Always use the correct charger for your vape.
• Make sure you read and understand the manufacturer’s recommendations for use and care of your device

Smoking and using emollients

Emollients are moisturisers that may contain paraffin or other products like shea or cocoa butter, beeswax, lanolin, nut oil, or mineral oils and they work by covering the skin with a protective film or barrier which keeps the moisture in.Both paraffin and non-paraffin emollients can act as an accelerant when absorbed into clothing and exposed to naked flames or other heat sources so it’s vital to stay aware of the risks and take precautions.

To help reduce your risk:

• Never smoke in bed
• Do not smoke if there is any chance your clothing or dressings could be contaminated with these products
• Wash your clothing and bedding daily at the highest temperature recommended by the fabric care instructions. This should reduce some of the contamination but will not remove it completely, so washing fabrics does not completely remove the fire risk.

Visit our emollients safety pages for more advice.