Summer is here, and you know what that means: heat, sunshine, and a fresh batch of safety risks.
Here are some essential summer safety tips to help prevent fires and keep you safe in the heat.
Fire Doors
While it may get hot both inside your apartment and the communal areas, never prop communal fire doors or flat entrance doors open to try to get air circulating.
Fire doors are designed to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke from one part of the building to another.
BBQs
Never have a barbeque or open fire on your balcony.
Embers could carry and set light to yours or your neighbour’s balcony and possessions. Keep your balcony free of any combustible items.
Electrical Safety
Electrical fires are most common during the summertime.
The heat encourages us to bring out of storage our portable desk fans and air conditioning units to help keep us cool.
Make sure you maintain any air-cooling devices.
During the hot months of summer, homeowners tend to run one or more devices for long periods of time.
This can lead to overheating, which can then cause a fire to start.
Check the condition of portable device wiring. E.g., fraying, general wear and tear or loose plugs.
Don’t overload electrical sockets, extension leads or adapters. If electrical sockets are overloaded, they can overheat and potentially burst into flames.
Unplug appliances which don’t need to be on continuously when you’re not using them or when you go to bed.
Keeping Cool
You can avoid the need to run multiple fans by following our top tips for keeping cool in your flat:
Dress appropriately for warm conditions wear light, breathable clothing that will keep you cool without presenting additional risks (such as tripping hazards).
Stay hydrated – dehydration happens when your body doesn’t have enough water to function properly.
How this affects you depends on the severity of your dehydration and how long the dehydration progresses unchecked.
One of the most common ways to speed up dehydration is by sweating, which is even more common in the summertime.
Remember to stay hydrated, preferably by drinking plenty of water.
We don’t always know how much water we are losing by sweating so ensure you are adequately hydrated by replenishing your body.
Close blinds and curtains – the easiest way to prevent the sun from heating up your flat is to close blinds and curtains on windows where the sun hits.
They don’t have to be closed all day, just during the peak sunlight hours which are usually between 12 pm and 7 pm.
Once this time has passed, you can open the blinds and curtains again to allow some of the trapped heat to escape.
