Fire service backs No Smoking Day

In response to the serious risks caused by smoking, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is supporting 'No Smoking Day 2009' and giving smokers yet more reasons to quit on Wednesday March 11 and beyond.

The best way to reduce risk is to give up. However, for smokers finding it tough to kick the habit, the advice from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is to be cautious when smoking at home and to 'Put it out, Right out' after finishing a cigarette.

Steve Wright, Community Fire Safety Team Leader, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: "People shouldn't under-estimate the dangers associated with smoking in the home if cigarettes aren't properly extinguished. The economic price of a house fire is immense and, even more importantly, you can't put a cost on the lives of loved ones. The

Service would encourage smokers to give up this No Smoking Day or at the very least pay careful attention to smoking materials."

Dan Tickle, Chief Executive of the charity No Smoking Day says: "70% of smokers want to stop, but aren't aware that there is free, local help available to them. Your local stop smoking service can increase your chances of success by four times. Why not take the first step this No Smoking Day to feel fitter and healthier?"

For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home:

- Put it out, Right out... Cigarettes can burn at up to 700 Degrees Celsius so make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.

- Take extra care when you're tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning.

- Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don't light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.

- Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down.

- Use a heavy ashtray that can't tip over easily and is made of a material that won't burn. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.

- Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish '“ and don't let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray.

Fit and maintain a smoke alarm. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to 'Get Out, Stay Out' and call 999.

Ask the experts - East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offer free home safety visits and smoke alarm fittings. For more information, call the Community Safety Team on 0800 1777069.

For further information visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills and www.nosmokingday.org.uk