Keeping older people safe this winter
THE police have teamed up with the fire service to carry out free home safety checks for older people in Carmarthenshire this winter.
The Dyfed-Powys Police ‘Bobby Van’ will visit homes where a qualified carpenter will look at security and fit locks, alarms and door chains if needed as well as offer advice to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of crime.
Thanks to funding from the Electrical Safety Council, he will be joined by staff from Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service who will supply and install a smoke alarm and give practical information on identifying fire hazards in the home.
The aim of the project is to help people feel safer in their homes by reducing the opportunity for crime and the risk of fire.
Jan Morgan, aged 68, said she was very grateful for the safety check carried out at her home in Robinson Street, Llanelli.
“The police came to talk to us at the Tuesday Club in the Catholic Hall to tell us about the Bobby Van and the fire safety checks so I signed up for it. They were fantastic. They put a peep hole in my front door and checked all the locks for me. They put a new smoke alarm on my landing, checked my fire and gave me advice about overloading electrical sockets.
“I think it’s very important especially for the elderly as there are people out there who are not always truthful and will try to trick you.
“I do feel much safer now and it’s made me think about being more careful.”
The project is one of a number of projects under the Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) ‘Think Safe, Home Safe’ campaign.
The CSP includes the council, police, fire service and other agencies working together to increase safety and reduce the fear of crime within the county.
Lorraine Carney, from the Electrical Safety Council (ESC), said: “Our primary objective is to help people stay safer around electricity so we are delighted to work with the Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service to support their scheme. According to government statistics, almost half of all accidental fires in UK homes – that’s over 20,000 each year – are caused by electricity, so it’s vital that people are made aware of where electrical dangers may arise in their homes and understand how to prevent an electrical-related accident happening.”
Community Fire Safety Officer for Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service, Steve Winstone, added: “We urge the public to get free smoke alarms fitted, and to check them regularly to make sure they are working. In the event of a fire, a detector can provide a life-saving early warning and give you and everyone in your home enough time to get to safety.”
The Bobby Van continues to receive funding from the partnership to help it operate throughout Carmarthenshire.
Executive Board Member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “This project makes a real difference to how safe older people feel in their own homes. It is also a real deterrent to burglars and bogus callers.
“The staff involved in the project work extremely hard to get round as many homes as they can and their work is very much appreciated.”
For further information or to request an appointment please call 0800 1691234 or call 101 and ask for extension 27465.
Electrical safety advice:
-
Hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow for no reason, flickering lights, and scorch marks on sockets or plugs are a sign of danger
-
Check electrical leads and plugs for wear and tear and faulty wiring. Frayed leads or exposed internal wires are a fire risk and should be replaced immediately
-
Do not overload sockets – use one plug in each socket. If you have to use a fused adapter, make sure you keep the output to no more than 13 amps
If in doubt, keep them out:
-
Before opening the door to anyone, use a spy hole or look through the window first, then apply the door chain and ask for identification.
-
If you are still not satisfied that the person is genuine, do not let him in but tell him to come back by appointment.
-
If the caller is persistent, close the door and call the police.
CAPTION: Llanelli resident Jan Morgan with Bobby Van carpenter Colin Taylor and Steve Winstone from the Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service.
Picture: Jeff Connell.
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |