Additional Advice for those Providing Care and Support to Smokers

Additional Advice for those Providing Care and Support to Smokers

• Support the smoker to make a quit attempt, switch to vaping an electronic cigarette or have a smokefree home. This is the best way to prevent a smoking-related fire.
• Support the smoker to understand and follow smoking fire safety advice (internal webpage). For example, if they are unable to extinguish cigarettes properly, make sure they are supervised when smoking and assist them to put their cigarettes out.
• Include and record smoking-related fire safety in your risk assessments and care planning. Involve the person you are supporting in decisions about their smoking-related fire safety.
• Ensure the smoker has smoke and heat alarms that meet their needs and that they are able to test their alarms at least monthly. If they are unable to do so, test their alarms for them or identify someone who can do this for them.
• If the smoker would be unable to escape in the event of a fire, or activating alarm, identify and implement solutions (such as assistive technology, like Telecare).
• If you are involved in decision making about the provision of accommodation for people who are unable to respond without assistance in the event of a fire, consider smoking status in your decision making. Ground floor accommodation will reduce risk for smokers who are unable to self-rescue.
• Consider providing fire risk reduction equipment to smokers, such as fire-retardant bedding, in accordance with risk.

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.