Fire Crews visit elderly Southport and Merseyside residents to check smoke alarms

Staff from across Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) have been out supporting hundreds of residents over the age of 65 as part of Older Person’s Day.

Fire crews, Vulnerable Persons Advocates and support staff from MFRS spent the day in our communities on Friday 1st October, offering fire safety advice and fitting free smoke alarms in homes where residents are known to be over 65.

The annual campaign sees the Service reaching out to our more senior community members to deliver Home Fire Safety Checks and Safe and Well interventions.

Over the last eight years, MFRS has visited close to 10,000 people over the age of 65 on that day alone.

Despite the ongoing challenge the COVID-19 pandemic poses to society, our staff have stepped forward once again alongside our operational crews to keep older people safe across Merseyside, delivering vital home fire safety checks and safety information.

This year our staff visited over 1850 properties, completing over 750 Home Fire Safety Checks. Of these, at least 70 were deemed as high risk leading to enhanced interventions at these properties, meaning that those who live there are safer from fire now than they were last week.

Group Manager for Prevention, Mark Thomas, said: “We are extremely proud to be able to show our support for Older Person’s Day and carry out this crucial day of activity. Our older residents can be particularly at risk of fires in their homes, especially as they may still be using older appliances and may not be able to check their smoke alarms as easily.

“Prevention work saves lives and we’re delighted to have our teams back out in the communities we serve once again to help ensure the safety of those older residents across Merseyside.

Having the support of additional firefighters, staff volunteers, local Authority partners and our own Authority members on Older Person’s Day means we are able to share important advice with those most at risk but also check in on those members of the community that may feel most isolated.

Carrying out this level of engagement and reassurance will help to save even more lives among some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

If you are over 65 and would like to receive a free Home Fire Safety Check, or if you're speaking to an elderly relative/friend/neighbour today, check they have working smoke alarms. If they don't, call us on 0800 731 5958.