According to YouGov figures, only 55% of over 65 year olds always register their ovens, fridges and washing machines, meaning thousands can miss out on vital, free, product safety repairs. Yet, according to the most recent statistics from the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) nearly half of all home fire fatalities (47%) occurred among the over 60s.
While the causes of these fires are many and varied, registering appliances is now a simple online task and should be an essential home safety measure for every UK household, according to the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA). During the CFOA’s third Home Safety Week (September 28 – October 4) AMDEA wants to ensure that all older people are aware that they should have all their appliances registered at www.registermyappliance.org.uk. As local fire and rescue services carry out their ‘Safe and Well’ visits to more vulnerable householders they will be distributing 60,000 flyers produced by AMDEA to highlight why, where and when appliances should be registered.
AMDEA chief executive Douglas Herbison commented: “While safety recalls on large white goods are rare (six to 10 recalls a year), if a problem arises it is vitally important that homes with the affected models can be contacted quickly and particularly that older, vulnerable, owners are not left off the radar.
“It is likely that the elderly may be nurturing older appliances and normally a quick in-home fix by a qualified engineer will rectify the problem and ensure many further years of safe use. But it is critical that owners are contacted quickly to set up the visit and we urge family, friends and carers to lend a hand to help those six million over 65s who do not have the internet,to get registered.”
