Additional Advice for Carers

Below is some additional advice on smoke and heat alarms, for carers.

• If you are providing care or support to a vulnerable person, it is important to include and record fire safety in your assessments and care planning.
• If the person you are providing care or support to is unable to test and maintain their smoke and heat alarms, test the alarms for them at least every month, or help to identify somebody who can do this.
• Make sure that the person you are providing care or support to has smoke and heat alarms that meet their needs and understands what to do if the alarms activate.
• If you are providing care or support to someone with a hearing impairment (internal webpage), check whether they can hear a sounding alarm from the place where they usually sleep. If they can’t, arrange for them to have interlinked smoke and heat alarms and an interlinked strobe light and vibrating pad fitted. This will provide a vibrating and visual alert if any alarm in the home activates.
• If you are providing care or support to someone who would be unable to mobilise/evacuate in response to a sounding alarm (internal webpage), make sure they have a suitable plan in place to aid escape, including the introduction of assistive technology if required.
• Wherever possible, involve the person you are supporting in decisions about their fire safety. Talk to them about what to do if a fire starts or if their alarm activates.
• Refer the person you are supporting to GMFRS for a Home Fire Safety Assessment using our Online Home Fire Safety Check tool (internal webpage) or by telephoning 0800 555 815 if you do not have internet access. The permission of the person you are referring is required.