Parents believe it’s the family’s responsibility to teach children about fire safety – yet fewer than two thirds have done a fire drill at home.
Parents believe it’s the family’s responsibility to teach children about fire safety – yet fewer than two thirds have done a fire drill at home.
While workplace fire drills are commonplace, they are few and far between at home, says a fire safety survey of more than 1,500 parents, from Norwich Union Insurance published today.
With the UK awaiting news of the threatened fireman’s strike, the study reveals a nation which is anxious about the danger of fire yet lax about key areas of its prevention.
It shows that 45 per cent of people are more worried about safety because of the possible strike.
Despite this, nearly a quarter of families have never discussed what to do if there’s a blaze at home while almost nine in 10 have failed to tell houseguests the fire procedure.
Meanwhile only one in three homes has a fire extinguisher.
Norwich Union’s fire safety survey also shows:
- Homeowners are more worried about fire than any other home disaster. 60 per cent named it the biggest fear, compared with 20 per cent for weather damage
- Only 30 per cent of people have a fire extinguisher in the home and a mere 14 per cent have a fire blanket
- 72 per cent of people believe the family should teach kids about fire safety, 12 per cent say schools
- Less than 10 per cent of homes don’t have smoke alarms
- Just under one third of householders regularly use candles at home
Jill Willis, household market development manager at Norwich Union Insurance, said: “There seems to be a odd attitude to fire safety in Britain. We know the dangers, we fear the dangers, yet most of us are not organised enough to run through a fire drill with our families.
“And yet, an increasing number of homes in the UK has a smoke alarm fitted. This proves that the public does respond to fire safety issues when it wants to. Clearly, people just need to extend their precautions into every appropriate area.”
Visit www.norwichuniondirect.co.uk/homedoctor for information on a range of issues affecting your home.
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Press contact:
Matthew Buchanan or Jane Wheeler at QBO on 020 7379 0304
or David Ross at Norwich Union on 08703 666 860
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