Fire And Road Safety
- Introduction
- Fires in the Home
- Fire Safety Advice
- Road Safety
- Road, Rail and Fire Safety Group Report 2009
Introduction
Through the Road, Rail and Fire Safety Group (RRFSG) the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership (TCSP) will seek to improve community safety by:
- reducing death and injury caused through road collisions and fires
- Delivering road and rail safety education and prevention campaigns aimed at schools and parents
- Reducing road traffic collisions through education and prevention campaigns aimed at 17-25 year olds
- Working with young people at risk through Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS) fire education programmes and youth schemes.
- Developing and adapting existing road and rail safety programmes to target young people displaying risk taking behaviour
- Improving safety on the railways
The terms of reference for the RRFSG are available below (please see how to access PDFs):
TCSP Thurrock Road, Rail and Fire Safety Group: Terms of Reference - July 2008 (PDF 59.5kB)
Fires in the home
Fires in the home kill several hundred people in the UK every year. In Thurrock for the 6 month period July - Dec 2007 the following fires were reported:
- 34 Deliberate primary fires (excluding vehicles)
- 66 Deliberate primary fires in vehicles
- 252 Deliberate secondary fires (excluding vehicles)
- 17 Fires in homes with no smoke alarms
Small fires are common. They can cause severe injuries and extensive damage to property and possessions. Follow these 12 simple steps to protect yourself and your home:
- Fit smoke alarms on each level in your home. Keep them free from dust and test them once a week. Consider buying a 10-year alarm; otherwise change the batteries in your alarm every year.
- Make a fire action plan so that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
- Take extra care in the kitchen - accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.
- Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. Consider buying a deep-fat fryer which is controlled by a thermostat (if you don't already have one).
- Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn't burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
- Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are disposed of carefully, and never smoke in bed.
- Get into the habit of closing doors at night. If you want to keep a child's bedroom door open, close the doors to the lounge and kitchen, it may well help save their life if there is a fire.
- Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket.
- Keep matches and lighters where children can't see or reach them.
- Take special care when you're tired or when you've been drinking.
- Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when it's not in use.
Fire Safety Advice
Imagine waking up to the smell of smoke. Imagine seeing your hall filling with thick black clouds,with flames round your kitchen door. It doesn't bear thinking about. But thinking about it can prevent it from happening. You can prevent most fires in the home. Being aware of the risks will help you avoid the risk of a fire starting in your home.
Doing some simple things can stop a fire starting in your home. This could save your life.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are cheap, easy to get hold of and,used properly, they really are lifesavers! There's no excuse for not having one.
Free home safety visits
Did you know that Thurrock fire-fighters are able to visit your home and fit smoke alarms with a ten year battery and to provide fire safety advice? This service is available to every household and is absolutely free. Over 1200 households in Thurrock every year benefit from these visits. For further information on a free home fire safety visit call 01375 376628 or visit your local fire station
Fire Safety in rented or shared accommodation
If you live in rented accommodation or share with other people,there's a higher chance you could have a fire.
Fires cost lives and cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to your possessions. Stop and think about fire safety – it's one investment you won't regret!
Celebrating Safely
Celebrations are an excuse to have fun,not an excuse for a fire!
Fire safety is the last thing on your mind when you're celebrating.But think about it – lots of guests,extra decorations,people smoking – all the everyday fire risks get bigger.
Don't let fire safety stop you enjoying yourself – know the risks and plan ahead.
Road Safety
The philosophy in Thurrock is to ensure that a broad educational programme is offered that will foster correct attitudes and behaviour amongst all road users, particularly children and young drivers. The overall aim of the Road Safety Unit is to work together with the people of Thurrock and our partners in other agencies to reduce the number of accidents and casualties on the roads of Thurrock.
Don't let fire safety stop you enjoying yourself – know the risks and plan ahead.
Road, Rail and Fire Safety Group Report 2009
The Road, Rail and Fire Safety Group (RRFSG) which is made up of members from the Thurrock and Brentwood Fire Service, Essex Police (Traffic), Thurrock Council Road Safety, Transport, Traffic and Licensing, Network Rail, Essex Ambulance Service, Highways Agency, Essex County council, NHS Primary Care and the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership (TCSP) have been working together to on a number of different areas of focus:
Create greater and smarter links between agencies in order to target vulnerable adult referrals to Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS), in particular from adult social care:
- More than 750 home fire safety checks were carried out in the last year.
Continue with road safety prevention & education campaigns aimed at schools and parents:
- Walk to School Week - 13,546 primary school children took part in raising the awareness of the dangers when walking to school.
- Walk To School Month.
- Crucial Crew – 1,800 year 6 pupils took part in road safety awareness for pupils preparing to move up to Secondary school.
- Think Parent -150 parents took part.
- Road Runners Young Drivers event - 333 students took part.
- Think Be Safe Be Seen - 140 parents and 150 children took part highlighting the need to wear reflective clothing in order to be seen by other road users
- Think Child Safety and Think Teen targeted at all schools.
- Think Drink Drive, Think Motorbikes, Think Speed, Think Drug Drive are all on-going campaigns throughout the year.
- Community Wheels Driving Simulator for safe driving for all age groups.
- Schools Smart Storyboard Competition on Road and Fire Safety.
Reduce road vehicle accidents through prevention and education campaigns aimed at 17 – 25 year olds:
- Safe Young Drivers and College Fresher Week held at South Essex College covering Speeding, Seatbelts, and Drink Driving.
- For My Girlfriend Campaign for young drivers to take responsibility for the safety of their passengers held at Palmers College.
- Driving Simulator Event covering Speeding, Drink Driving, Seatbelts and driving responsibly was held at Arena Essex.
To work with young people at risk through Essex County Fire and Rescue Service fire education programmes:
- Road Traffic Collision education programmes delivered to young people
- Young Fire-fighters and Firebreak courses attended by more than150 young people. They are aimed at vulnerable young people to improve their self esteem
To develop or adapt existing road safety programmes to target young people displaying risk taking behaviour
- Fire Bike – Fire Service logo motor cycles to engage with bike riders
- Prison Me No Way – interagency event including Arson and Railway safety workshops to reduce crime & disorder, delivered to Hassenbrook Secondary School, Ockendon School and the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)
- Level crossing initiatives by Network Rail highlighting the dangers of trespassing on the railways at Tilbury Town, East Tilbury and Grays Railway level crossings.
- Cruisers targeted with an on-going Dispersal Order
To work with the development corporation and highways to reduce risk through design and prevention
- Operation Spalding and Operation Mermaid targeted over weight loads and general safety maintenance of all Commercial Vehicles
- Operation Spalding and Operation Calypso (A13 Christmas Campaign) to reduce speeding, drink driving and to enforce seatbelt and Mobile phone laws
