As part of the national Fire Kills campaign Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the Boat Safety Scheme are asking local boat owners to make vital safety checks and learn more about fire and carbon monoxide risks to stay safe this summer.
In the past 20 years thirty boaters were killed in boat fires and another 30 lost their lives to the ‘silent killer’ carbon monoxide. The message, timed for the start of the boating season, is that owners should understand the risks, make regular, basic checks, and follow their engine and appliance operating guidelines, as the essential steps to deal with the fire and carbon monoxide threat.
During Boat Fire Safety Week, Merseyside fire-fighters and the Marine Rescue Unit will be talking to boat owners in Liverpool handing out leaflets to alert people to the risks and help them protect themselves and their passengers.
The “Fire Safety on Boats” leaflet provides tips on how to protect your boat and your crew from fire, as well as what to do if a fire breaks out.
People can also get safety advice on the go, with the top 10 tips to keep you safe from carbon monoxide available for smartphones, tablets and laptops at www.boatsafetyscheme.org/CO and petrol safety tips at
http://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/PetrolSafety
For further information about general boat fire and CO safety, visit www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe
Sean McGuiness, Station Manager for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said, “We are urging boat owners to learn more about fire and carbon monoxide risks on board their boats. Following a few simple steps can help prevent risks from fire and carbon monoxide.”
• Make sure you know your boat and make a fire action plan with everyone in the boat.
• Fit a smoke alarm that meets British Standard BS5446 Part 1 and carries an approval mark such as ‘kitemark’.
• Check all appliances are turned off and if possible, close the valve on the LPG cylinders before you go to bed or leave the boat.
• Keep candles, matches, lighters and other sources of flame out of reach of children.
• Make sure cigarettes are put out safely – use metal ashtrays. Avoid falling asleep with a lit cigarette – never smoke in bed.
• Never leave a hot hob unattended especially when cooking with oil or fat.
• Don’t fit curtains or fabrics over hob burners and don’t dry tea towels or clothes over a cooker or hob
Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321
Email ots@otsnews.co.uk
Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk
Twitter www.twitter.com/onthespot_news
Breaking local news as it happens, searchable archives with photographs, the ability to instantly comment on news articles – there are so many advantages to OTS (Onthespot) News.
If you want your news read locally online then send it to ots@otsnews.co.uk – relying only on the newspaper is to restrict yourself to an ever reducing audience.
OTS News on Social Media