Checking fire alarms regularly saves lives

Fire alarms are vital in alerting people to fire and buy valuable time to leave your home safely and alert the fire service.

Jackie Boyle, Community Fire Safety Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: “Your smoke alarm can only give you that vital early warning if it is working, so why not make it a new year’s resolution to test it weekly.

“All too often we make resolutions that we find very hard to keep but testing your smoke alarms is really very easy and could save your life, so put it to the top of your list.”

It can take only two or three breaths of toxic smoke to render someone unconscious and people are more than twice as likely to die in a fire in their own home if there is not a working smoke alarm.

The service is offering free home fire safety checks for the elderly and vulnerable. Call 0800 328 6487 or go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire