AMDEA’s safety campaign ‘Register my appliance’ has announced its support of the Government ‘Tick Tock Test’, which is urging the public to test their smoke alarms when the clocks go forward over the weekend of March 28 and 29.
AMDEA recently launched its online safety initiative, with smoke alarms heading the website’s general home safety tips. The new portal (www.registermyappliance.org.uk) is designed to make it easier for people to register all of their domestic appliances, to ensure that manufacturers know where to find them if a safety repair is needed, AMDEA says. As a top tip the ‘Register my appliance’ website also urges householders to fit smoke alarms on each level of their home. AMDEA warns that although a working smoke alarm is the best way to gain the time to escape if there is an accidental fire, for many people testing their alarm is low on their list of spring cleaning priorities.
The Government’s chief fire and rescue adviser Peter Holland said: “Smoke alarms are a well-proven life saving tool, but they’re no use if they’re not working. You’re at least four times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm, so taking the time to test the smoke alarms in your home could be a truly lifesaving decision.”
The Government Fire Kills campaign, in partnership with local fire and rescue authorities, is asking people to make an online pledge to test their smoke alarms this clock change weekend.
AMDEA chief executive Douglas Herbison added: “We’re supporting this campaign and encouraging everyone to take a few seconds when they’re changing their clocks to press the button to test their smoke alarm. Once the alarms are installed they’re so easily forgotten.”
Last year, a reported one in seven people tested their smoke alarms when they changed their clocks to British Summer Time. This spring, Fire Kills is determined that even more people will keep their homes safer by testing their smoke alarms.
AMDEA says that the Register my appliance campaign reached an audience of approximately 15 million during the January launch, with articles in over one hundred and fifty print and online publications. Much of this publicity was thanks to support from the 46 local fire and rescue services around the country, who are also distributing Register my appliance leaflets to their local communities. AMDEA adds that take up on social media has been increasing week on week and the Citizens Advice network is the latest organisation to pledge their support to make the public aware of the importance of registering their old and new appliances.
