SWFRS Encourages Its Communities To Think Safe And Cook Safe

During July and August, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) will be promoting it’s ‘Think Safe, Cook Safe’ campaign which aims to educate communities across South Wales about the dangers of cooking while sharing tips and safety advice to families, young professionals and the most vulnerable in it’s communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since 2013, in the South Wales area, 52% of accidental fires in homes were cooker related. Of those fires, over 700 were caused by ovens and 40% were ignited by food. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

SWFRS found that July and August had the highest number of incidents, and in addition that 51% of injuries in accidental fires in homes involved food. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Riverside (Cardiff), Pentwyn and Cathays saw the highest volume of cooker related accidental fires in homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign highlights the dangers of leaving your cooker unattended and stresses the importance of keeping children safe while cooking at home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Head of Community Safety Garry Davies said, “As a Service, we continue to attend a high number of accidental dwelling fires across South Wales and cooking is a significant factor. The ‘Think Safe, Cook Safe’ campaign is all about spreading the message to our communities about being safe in their kitchen, especially when cooking, and taking simple precautions to avoid the risks of fire. We want people to be able to enjoy being in their kitchen and cooking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Testing your smoke alarm on a regular basis, knowing your escape route and calling 999, are all simple tips that could save your life and your family’s in the event of a fire. We will be out and about over the next couple of months sharing these messages with our communities and look forward to meeting everyone.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

SWFRS has the following top tips to stay safe in the kitchen: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Don’t leave cooking unattended, use a timer if you have something in the oven
• Never put water on a grease fire, use a pan lid and take it off the heat
• Never cook if you’re sleepy, have been drinking alcohol or have taken medication which makes you drowsy
• Test your smoke alarms every month and change the batteries if necessary regularly
• If you have a cooking fire – get out, stay out, call 999. Make sure you and your family know your escape plan ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As with most accidental fires in the home, it is essential to take extra care and not be distracted while cooking. SWFRS will be attending the following events across South Wales to raise awareness of how to cook safely. There will be activities and competitions for children and adults to get involved and learn more about the campaign: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Cardiff Bay Food & Drink Festival: 8th to 10th July
• National Eisteddfod, Abergavenny: 29th July to 6th August
• Vale of Glamorgan Show: 10th August ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​