Another Good Reason for Bideford Smokers to Quit

Hey all you smokers out there in Bideford.  It's No Smoking day today.  We all know by now that smoking is bad for our health, and it's expensive, and it's anti-social ... so is it time to give up?                       

Around a million smokers will be trying to quit on No Smoking Day and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) are adding another good reason to your list of reasons to give up.

Careless disposal of cigarettes and other smoking products is the single biggest killer in house fires across the country and causes over a third of all accidental dwelling fire fatalities.

If you are not ready to go cold turkey then the Fire Service give this advice:

• Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished. Put it out, right out!  

• Fit a smoke alarm and test it weekly. A working smoke alarm means you are more than twice as likely to survive an accidental house fire and can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999

• Never smoke in bed. Take care when you’re tired. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight

• Avoid drugs and alcohol when smoking. It’s easy to lose your concentration when using any sort of drugs or drinking alcohol, combined with cigarettes and this could be lethal 

• Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down

• Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn.

For further information on fire safety visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills

For more information on the No Smoking Day Charity and their work, please visit their website: www.nosmokingday.org.uk