Living alone
Whether it’s struggling with household chores, health deterioration, loneliness, caring for a loved one, or your own care needs, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service may be able to help or point you in the right direction.
It is an unfortunate truth that you may be more at risk to fire when living alone or isolated in rural areas. The Fire and Rescue Service carries out Safe and Well checks for people with increased vulnerability which may help to protect you or a loved one falling victim to an incident in the home. We also work very closely with professional partners including councils and care agencies to jointly assess and cater to your needs.
5 ways to improve fire safety for those living alone
- Install a smoke alarm on all levels of your property and where there is a greater risk of a fire occurring. A working smoke alarm will give you vital time needed to escape a fire. NEVER remove the battery or take your alarm off its backplate unless it’s to replace the battery or install a new alarm
- Take care when cooking and don’t get distracted, especially if you have been drinking alcohol. Fit a heat alarm in your kitchen rather than a smoke alarm to prevent false alarms
- Never overload electrical sockets; remember one plug per socket, see Electrical Safety First socket calculator (Opens in a new window)
- Make a fire escape plan - know where you keep door keys at night and keep your escape routes clear
- Have a bedtime routine - close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading, turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on, and put out candles and cigarettes properly
If you think you would benefit from some help or would like to talk to someone please use the following links for information and support
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Safe and Well check
A Safe and Well Check may be a great starting point to feeling safe in your home and starting the journey to gain as much support as you need.