Fire safety boost for elderly in South Lanarkshire

SFR and South Lanarkshire Council team up to deliver new safety initiative

STRATHCLYDE Fire & Rescue have joined forces with South Lanarkshire Council's Home Safety Team to pilot a new initiative that aims to reduce the numbers of elderly and vulnerable people who are injured, or die, in house fires.

The initiative, that is backed and funded by the Electrical Safety Council, provided the residents in two sheltered housing units with a variety of potentially life-saving goods, including new electric blankets, circuit breakers and extension cables. As well as picking up the new safety materials, residents at Mill Street, Cambuslang and the Bank Complex in Forth, were also given advice on how to avoid accidents and prevent fire in their homes.

Commenting on the launch of the initiative SFR Group Commander Martin Millar said:

"From our perspective there is increased concern around 'at risk groups' within our communities, such as the elderly, those living alone or with mobility issues. Statistically, such people are at greater risk of injury or death as a result of fire in the home. The funding from the Electrical Safety Council has allowed us to enhance the Home Fire Safety Visit service that we currently offer to households. We can now support a 'new for old' exchange of blankets and extension cables - all vital components in cutting the risk of electrical fire in the home."

Margaret Brunton from South Lanarkshire Council, added:

"We have been working closely with Strathclyde Fire & Rescue for a long time, looking at ways in which we can collectively reduce the risk to those who are most vulnerable in our communities. The funding from the Electrical Safety Council will provide potentially life-saving additions to homes, and the residents of the sheltered housing complexes we have visited are ideal recipients and it goes without saying, we hope that the prevention efforts being made now will pay dividends for the future."