Fiona has backed Electrical Safety First’s Safer Over 65 campaign.
Winter is here and with over half of all domestic fires arising from electricity – and older people disproportionately affected by them – it’s the time of year we particularly need to keep an eye on older friends and relatives.
The charity, Electrical Safety First, is working with MPs to encourage constituents to check on the electrical safety of older family members, or neighbours, and has developed a range of tools and guides to help keep them safe in their home.
Fiona said
“Many older people often use portable heaters and electric blankets. However, these appliances do cause a number of house fires, each year, though mainly through misuse. As most older people are owner-occupiers, they tend to live in homes which have not had an electrical safety check for many years. This means the homes can lack important electrical safety features. And today, we are sadly also seeing a significant increase in age-related illnesses such as dementia, making electrical safety even more of an imperative.”
Most electrical fires are caused by simple mistakes that can easily be avoided. The Charity’s top tips for using portable heaters safely are given below but for more detailed help - including an app which allows you to do a rapid visual electrical safety check of a home, plus a range of safety guides - visit: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/olderpeople