The team at FirstPort provide a timely reminder of the importance of safety in the home.

With many of us having to spend much more time in our homes at the moment, it’s an ideal time to think about how you can make small changes that will contribute to the safety of your home.

The safety of your development is our number one priority. Did you know that FirstPort has recently been awarded five stars by the British Safety Council for the fourth year running for our health, safety and environmental management?

Whilst health and safety is our area of expertise, we work collaboratively with our residents so they understand the part they can play in keeping their homes as safe as they can be.

Fire Safety

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council, firefighters are called to a greater number of domestic fires at times when more people are at home – for instance, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. 

As many more of us are in our homes as much as we would be at these times and are likely to be cooking, using our heating and our electrical appliances much more at the moment, we wanted to share some advice which may help you to minimise the risk of a fire.

Fire safety in your development:

• Make sure that fire exits are kept clear, and items aren’t left in stairwells or corridors
• Place all rubbish in bins, and don’t leave any refuse or other potentially flammable material in communal areas

Fire safety in your home:

• Make sure you’re familiar with the evacuation procedure for your building
• Make sure there are smoke detectors inside your home, and regularly check that they’re still working
• Don’t leave any combustible items on your balcony
• Remember that you shouldn’t use BBQ’s or patio heaters on your balcony

Cooking:

• Try not to leave cooking unattended
• Take extra care when cooking with hot fat or oil
• Keep children away from any cooking appliances

Electrics:

• Try to keep to one plug per socket, especially for high powered appliances like washing machines
• Avoid non-manufacturer branded chargers for items that use lithium batteries
• Don’t leave phones or laptops plugged in to charge overnight

Candles:

• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire, like curtains
• Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re completely out at night
• Keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of reach of children

Cigarettes:

• When you finish a cigarette, make sure it is completely put out

Water Hygiene

Another area to consider is water hygiene. It’s FirstPort’s responsibility to maintain the highest standard of water hygiene in the communal areas of the developments we manage. However, having the right advice means that you can make sure you have fresh, clean water inside your own home too.

In the most extreme cases, stagnant or stored water can cause legionella bacteria to develop. This can cause Legionnaires disease as a result of breathing in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria, although the risk is extremely low. More common, an unhealthy water supply can cause an upset stomach, which isn’t pleasant, so knowing the ways to keep your water supply clean is definitely worthwhile.

Follow these simple steps to keep your home’s water supply clean and healthy.

• Clean your shower/spray taps of scale and debris every three to six months, or earlier if scaling is evident.
• If you have an electric hot-water tank, it is advised that you fully heat the water to 60˚C at least two to three times per week.

You can find more tips and other useful health and safety advice at healthandsafety.firstport.co.uk.

We hope that you, your family, friends and neighbours are staying safe and well.