Smoking-fire safety tips for smokers
If you or someone in your home smokes you can take the following simple steps to prevent a fire from happening in your home.
- Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don't light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire
- 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
- Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished. Put it out, right out!
- Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down
- Use a proper, heavy, ashtray that can't tip over easily and is made of a material that won't burn. Make sure your cigarette is not still burning when you are finished - put it out, right out
- Do not empty your ashtray into a bin because this can cause the bin to catch fire. A drop of water in the ashtray will help to make it safe, then leave it to cool down fully.
- Make sure to keep your smoking materials (cigarettes, lighters etc) out of sight and reach of children.
- Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999. You can get a ten-year smoke alarm for roughly the same price as two packets of cigarettes
- Never leave e-cigarettes on charge unattended for long periods
- Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes
- Only use the charger supplied
- Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette from a reputable source
- Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification
- Test your smoke alarm regularly
- Contact Trading Standards over any e-cigarette safety concerns
- Always use the correct charger and follow the manufacturer's instructions
- Never charge a battery that has been damaged, dropped or struck
- Never plug a charger into a non-approved mains power transformer
- Check your battery has overcharge or overheat protection
- Don't overcharge. Remove the battery from charge when complete
- Never leave a charging battery unattended
- Don't charge if wet
- Do not overtighten the atomiser when connecting it to the charger
Giving up smoking is the best way to prevent a fire in your home due to smoking materials.
Did you know you are 4 times more likely to give up permanently with NHS support than if you try to quit by yourself?
Follow this link to find out more about stopping smoking