Partnership work brings efficiency through effectiveness.
The cause of most fire deaths in the home is from careless disposal of smoking materials.
It is a fact that over half of the people that die from fire in the home, receive a service from care providers. Many of these cases can be prevented, with early intervention.
The West Midlands Fire Service has engaged in preventative activity working with many different partners for numerous years. A large area of prevention-based activity focuses on Home Safety Checks in an individual’s home highlighting the hazards, providing fire safety advice, installing detection and suppression equipment if required.
Figures in the previous two years show an increase in the most vulnerable people being at risk from fire. With an ageing population, increased co-morbid conditions, and more individuals receiving care in their own home, these numbers have a potential to grow. Professionals who work with vulnerable individuals are aware that the level of Vulnerability varies from one individual to the next. The level of risk could be a combination of these factors.
The WMFS has provided some supporting information for Partner agencies working, to provide them the background knowledge to identify potential fire risks in the home. Training and support is can be accessed from our specialist team of Vulnerable Persons Officers and Advocates.
Risk identification is a two way process and none fire related risks can be signposted to our respective partners. This preventative work has had a huge success in reducing the numbers of people killed because of a fire.
Working in partnership, not only helps to deliver a far more robust approach to fire risk but also offers real alternatives to the escalation of care provision as well as supporting independent living.
There are other significant cost benefits from stopping the fire from taking place; ‘The Economic Cost of Fire’ estimates the cost to the economy of a fatal fire at £1.5m and a burns injury at £174k. This opportunity offers support to develop an alternative service from acute and expensive in-patient care.
How do I make a referral?
There are various methods to make a referral to the WMFS for a vulnerable individual to receive a Home Safety Check.
If you work supporting people in independent living and would like more information please contact us on 0800 389 5525 or email contact.centre@wmfs.net
