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Or direct the person to online support. • Discourage smoking in, or on any bed. For airflow mattresses the message needs to be stronger – NEVER smoke in bed. • If the person persists against all advice, they should only smoke in a supervised session. • If the person has been prescribed an airflow mattress, they are also likely to be using emollients – they should not smoke if there is any chance materials are contaminated with emollient. • Keep all ignition sources away from the bedding, including candles; cigarettes, matches and lighters; hairdryers, heated hair styling appliances; TV, laptops, chargers; electric blankets and heaters or e-cigarettes. • Do not daisy-chain plugs and adaptors - or use multi-way adaptors – plug the mattress directly into mains. • Ensure essential electrical items are maintained, switched off and unplugged at the mains when not in use. • Store combustibles away from heat and open flame sources, and store bulky combustibles in more than one place if possible The next component is Arson and Deliberate fires. Conduct a physical check of the premise boundaries to find any areas where trespass can be easily gained or any evidence of previous fire setting. If boundaries are insecure, the following standardised advice would be given to occupant. Fire Safety officer: “We have identified that your boundaries have some areas that could allow people to enter your property. Having a secure boundary can help you deter opportunist access. These access routes often lead to opportunist crime taking place including theft or house burglary. It also stops people entering your premises for a place to hang out, cause damage and start fires. We would advise you to make repairs to the boundary so that you deter unwanted access and can channel any visitors to your main door or most visible access route.” Further questions to discover answers to include, Are there any outbuildings? This would be answered whilst undertaking the boundary check. Any outbuildings would be visible, or alternatively the question can be asked directly if premise footprint is large. If yes, the following question is presented to the person completing the assessment; Are these outbuildings Secure? This would involve a quick physical check of the outbuildings to see if they are locked or if any access points exist for crime to take place. If outbuildings are NOT secure, the following standardised advice would be given to the occupant; Fire Safety officer: “Opportunist criminals often take advantage of insecure outbuildings. Securing your outbuildings can reduce the likelihood of theft and arson. It will reduce the access to combustible materials within the outbuilding which could be used to try to cover up a theft. There are various locks available, and your local DIY store or Police Force will be able to advise and provide information” Are outside areas clear of free fuel for opportunity arson? This can be completed when following boundary checks. Check for combustibles that have been hoarded or being stored that could be set alight in an opportunist or targeted arson attack. If no, the following standardised advice would be given to occupant. Fire Safety officer: “Having outdoor areas free from combustible items will not only improve the space you have available to use, but it will reduce the possibility of opportunist arson by removing the materials that could be set on fire. This could be opportunist or to conceal a crime such as theft. It will also remove anything that could be set on fire to harass or victimise you.” Do you have a routine to secure your home when you go out or for during the hours of darkness? This would involve asking the occupant the direct question. If No, the following standardised advice would be given. Fire Safety officer: “Good lighting outdoors is an excellent deterrent for opportunist arson and general crime. Dusk till dawn lights could make outdoor areas safer for you to see and use during darkness. Using low energy bulbs will help improve security and keep running costs to a minimum. If you do install them angle the beam of light to maximise lighting on your property taking neighbours into consideration so not to shine through their windows or annoy them.” Have you received any threats of arson on you or your property? This would involve asking the occupant the direct question, and if evidence of fire setting has been identified during the boundary check; picking up on where these fires originated. Safeguarding the individual is of concern here and time should be spent to determine if anyone is being victimised or being targeted using fire. All FRSs will have links into CDRPs and Safeguarding Boards along with Safeguarding Procedures to make referrals and obtain multi-agency actions if required. FRSs may also have systems in place to make increases to PDAs and provide additional information to crews should attendance at the property ensue. FRSs should follow their embedded processes/procedures. If Yes, the following standardised advice would be given: Fire Safety officer: Have you reported the threats to the Police? If not, would you like us to do that on your behalf? We would strongly advise you to have a Home Security Check from your local Police Force • Reiterate the importance of boundary and outbuilding security and having no external free fuel reiterated • Offer advice on securing wheelie bins/outdoor storage away from the house walls to prevent a fire spreading to the property Fire Safety officer: Store vehicles in a secure garage if possible. If not park in a well-lit area, under CCTV if possible, and not close to the home where a fire could easily spread to. Fire Safety officer: Have you considered CCTV as deterrent or to capture images? Fire Safety officer: Security routines are important when you leave the home or go to bed; you should close windows and doors and any other openings that could be used to introduce fire or a flammable liquid. Be mindful of an occupant informing us of an individual within the home who is involved in firesetting. FRSs who offer the interventions for children or adult firesetters should link this to an onward referral for this service to be delivered. Be mindful on accurate record keeping for provision on request at any Serious Case Reviews. A further component to investigate is Clutter and Hoarding. Clutter and hoarding increase the risk of fire occurring and makes it more difficult for people living in the property to evacuate safely. Fire can spread to neighbouring properties if the level of hoarding is severe or if flammable items such as gas containers are being stored. It can also pose a high risk to fire fighters when attending the scene, hampering firefighting, and rescuing operations. Hoarding disorder has been recognised as a distinct mental health problem which may present in isolation or as part of another mental health problem. Make sure to, • Embed the assessment of ‘risk from clutter and hoarding’ within their Person-centred Risk Checks / Safer Home Visits • Fully provide clutter and hoarding advice, education, and interventions within their Person-centred Risk Checks / Safer Home Visits • Develop and share through local strategic boards, safeguarding and health partnerships, or any future developed national toolkits As a minimum, the NFCC advises the following: • Work with the homeowner or local landlord to ensure that the homeowner is keeping exits and entrances clear • Give advice regarding the benefits of clearing items, help can be provided through local health care referral pathways. • Change behaviours to avoid the hazard of clutter and hoarding and storage of items Give advice on how to Isolate and control the hazard: • Examine options in terms of removal of clutter. This must be done with a carer/health professional input to ensure there is no detriment to the mental health of the homeowner. • Remind and prompt landlords and health partners about the fire safety issues. Provide information and follow-up advice via further visits or information • Work with local safeguarding boards to address issues through multi-agency involvement. • Provide interventions, or recommend that interventions be provided, which are appropriate to the risk. • Consideration should also be given to the local authority partners to secure a care line link in the event of an emergency. • Request that the homeowner shares details with the Fire Service regarding where they are sleeping in the property and consider the clutter rating level. A final component is Home Fire Detection and Assistive Technology Every home should have smoke alarms and no home should be unprotected. Fitting a smoke alarm on every floor of a home should be recognised as a minimum standard. It is recommended that, • smoke alarms are fitted in every room in the house which is regularly inhabited. • Smoke alarms to be optical multi sensor with a ten-year life span. • The smoke alarm has a sealed battery compartment to prevent tampering • Where possible, these alarms should be inter-linked so that all will actuate within the property irrespective of the fire location. It is additionally recommended that a heat alarm should be fitted in the kitchen. • All smoke alarms should be replaced after ten years, or by the ‘replace by’ date indicated on the base or earlier if found to be defective. Reduce and isolate the hazard by: • Changing behaviours to ensure that everyone in the home understands the importance of working smoke alarms • Ensuring fire safety messages and activities are aimed at protecting all occupants of dwellings. • Encouraging those who can (or have a legislative responsibility to do so) provide suitable fire detection and warning and support those who can’t to get the help and assistance needed to adequately protect themselves