Fire service calls on public to make fire safety a priority this winter

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) is urging people to make fire safety a priority this winter following a serious house fire, in Kensington. Firefighters were called to Esher Road, in Kensington, Liverpool, on Sunday, 8 November 2020. 3 fire engines were needed to tackle the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. Thankfully no 1 was seriously injured in the blaze, although a family pet sadly died and the house was left badly damaged. MFRS attended 350 accidental fires in the home between October 2019 and the end of February 2020, with cooking related fires, smoking related fires and domestic appliances the most common causes. A number of fires in the home were also caused by heating equipment.

Mark Thomas, Group Manager for Prevention at MFRS, said:- "We know that there is a lot going on this year and people are obviously pre-occupied with the Pandemic and whether or not they will get a 'normal' Christmas, but it's really important that fire safety remains a priority; a fire in the home is the last thing anybody needs right now. At this time of year, people take steps to make the house warmer and cosier and we completely understand that need for comfort right now but in doing so, we can also be opening ourselves up to dangers and greater risk of fire. There are simple things that everyone can do to reduce the risk of fire in the home though; things like never leaving cooking unattended, ensuring candles are placed in suitable holders away from curtains or any other flammable items and making sure that cigarettes are extinguished properly. Take time to check your electrical appliances are in good working order; if wires are damaged or frayed, do not use them. Don't leave appliances like dishwashers, washing machines or tumble dryers on overnight. If you have an open fire, make sure you always use a fire guard and check the fire is completely out before you leave the house or go to bed. It's really important to make sure chimneys, flues and heating appliances are clean and well maintained too. If you have portable heaters, make sure they are kept away from curtains and furniture and NEVER use them to dry clothes. Make sure heaters are unplugged when you go to bed and NEVER use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket. The most important step to take is to make sure that you have working smoke alarms in your property and that everyone in your household knows what to do and how to escape in the event of a fire."

Throughout the winter period, MFRS' operational crews will be distributing Home Safety Advice leaflets across Merseyside, concentrating on areas of deprivation and where we know there are vulnerable people living.

GM Thomas added:- "It's really important at this time of year that we all look out for our elderly and vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours. Older residents can be particularly at risk of fire in their homes, especially as they may still be using old appliances or may not be able to check their smoke alarms on a weekly basis. We will be working closely with our partner agencies, including Local Authorities and housing associations, to make sure the most vulnerable members of our community are safe this winter. We'd urge members of the public to do their bit to; the next time you speak to your elderly or vulnerable relatives, whether this be over the phone or visiting them as part of your social bubble, check if they need anything and ask if they have working smoke alarms."

For free fire safety advice, call:- 08007315958. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also provides free smoke alarms for Merseyside residents aged 65 or over. Due to Covid19, risk assessments will be carried out over the phone before any home visits can be arranged.

Follow these tips to stay safe from fire:-

►  Smoke alarms - smoke alarms save lives but only if they're working and in the right place. You should have at least 1 working smoke alarm on every level of your home. Consider installing additional alarms in rooms with electrical appliances or sleeping areas. Don't put alarms in or near kitchens and bathrooms where smoke or steam could set them off accidentally. NEVER take the batteries out of your smoke alarm to put into another electrical device.

►  Heaters - keep heaters well away from clothes, curtains, furniture and other flammable materials. NEVER use heaters to dry clothes. ALWAYS switch off and unplug your heaters before going to bed.

►  Smoking - if you smoke, use a proper ashtray and make sure it is placed on a level surface away from combustible materials. Make sure your cigarettes are fully extinguished. Don't smoke in bed; you could easily fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and cause a fire.

►  Candles - keep candles and tea lights away from anything that can catch fire. NEVER leave lit candles unattended; make sure they are fully extinguished before leaving the room or going to bed. Consider using LED battery operated candles instead.

►  Cooking - make it a priority to keep cooking areas clear and clean from combustible materials. Make sure your oven and grill are clean; a build up of fat or grease can cause a fire. DON'T leave pans unattended while cooking and NEVER leave children or pets unattended in the kitchen.

►  Electrical items - check your electrical appliances are in good working order. If the wires are damaged or frayed, do no not use them. Don't leave washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers running overnight or when you are not in. Don't overload your plug sockets. Appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug to themselves as they are high powered.

►  Escape routes - make sure everyone in your household knows how to get out in the event of a fire. Ensure your escape routes are clear from any clutter. Keep your door and window keys in a known and accessible place.

►  In and emergency, call:- 999 IMMEDIATELY. In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call:- 999.

Swimmers take the plunge and 'bake a difference' for local cancer charity

CANCER charity Maggie's Merseyside is encouraging people to host socially distanced or virtual get together around their kitchen table and fundraise for their centre on the Wirral. Hundreds of Kitchen Table Days will be held nationwide this month, all the while raising money for people with cancer.

Every Maggie's Centre follows a blueprint about cancer care as originally laid out by Maggie Keswick Jencks. Maggie lived with advanced cancer for 2 years and was determined that she should not:- "lose the joy of living in the fear of dying." In order to live more positively with cancer, Maggie believed people needed information, stress reducing strategies, psychological support and the opportunity to meet other people in similar circumstances in a relaxed and beautiful setting. All Maggie's Centres are individually designed by leading architects to feel like a home and all have a big kitchen table at their heart.

Centre visitor, Simone Pownall Jones, was 1 of many taking part in the kitchen table day event and put an almighty spin on her fundraising initiative. Back in 2018 Simone was placed on the early breast screening trial and had her very 1st mammogram on 12 March 2019, it was 2 weeks later when the results from her biopsy came back revealing she had breast cancer, grade 2 mutinous carcinoma, oestrogen receptive and high grade DCIS.

Simone said:- "everything was a blur to be honest. At my following appointments I was given loads of information about surgery, hormone therapy and reconstruction. It was just too much to take on board and rushing into surgery just felt too brutal to me." Simone decided to pause the surgery as she felt well, she joined an outdoor swimming group, and said:- "Cancer certainly wasn't going to take over my life, I was in control."

It was in April 2020 that Simone felt a lump in her breast and was referred back to Clatterbridge. Simone's lump had double in size and through recommendations by her surgeon, Simone decided to follow the conventional route and have a Mastectomy in May 2020, followed by preventative chemo in July. It was when Simone started chemo that she discovered Maggie's.

Simone said:- "Maggie's was just so welcoming, it was a great place to just have a cuppa and a piece of cake. I then learnt about the online groups they were running during lockdown, such as Tai Chi, Yoga and the Friday kitchen table zoom meet ups. The financial worries that cancer causes were eased by Maggie's support and guidance, they helped advise what support I was entitled to. I felt I wanted to fundraise for Maggie's to raise their profile. If I hadn't heard of them before I started chemo then I gathered a lot more people might not have either and I wanted to change this."

After attending 1 of the free online sessions and hearing about the Kitchen Table Day event, Simone signed up to receive her free fundraising pack and decided to put a spin on her event.

Simone wasn't letting anything get in the way of her fundraising and she arranged a socially distanced photoshoot, with Colin McPherson, and her amazing outdoor swim community:- The Happy Chilli Dippers, Chris Shaw, Jazmine Seddon and the "Me Again" charity. Simone made her kitchen table day interactive, fun and something majorly different and managed to put a massive orange splash in the Marine Lake, New Brighton, with the entire team donning orange Maggie's tops, tutus, orange wigs and even orange faces. The team walked the streets of New Brighton and ended the day by diving into the icy cold water to help raise awareness and all important funds for Maggie's.

This wasn't the end of Simone's quest to make a mark or giant splash with her fundraising. The following weekend was when Simone and tons of others hit to the beach to take part in an open water and socially distanced dip in the ice cold River Mersey. With chilli dippers, paddle boarders and open water swimmers taking to the waves, not only for the adrenaline but for the cause, Maggie's. Simone treated the beach as her kitchen table and was able to take a splash in the Mersey and offer delicious home made cakes and hot soup to the brave outdoor swim groups that visit Moreton beach each and every week.

Simone said:- "I am delighted to take part in Maggie's Kitchen Table Day which will raise vital funds for the incredibly important work that Maggie's Merseyside do in supporting people living with cancer locally. Maggie's Kitchen Table Day is an opportunity to catch up with the people you care about to celebrate and have fun whilst also making a difference. Whether it be a virtual coffee morning, a garden gate cake delivery service or even raffling off some delicious cakes, people can get involved and support the great work that Maggie's do." Simone has raised an unbelievable ₤3,500 through her kitchen table days and is encouraging more people to get creative and host their very own virtual event.

Kathy Wright, Centre Head at Maggie's Merseyside said:- "I can't wait to see the wonderful events that people in and around Merseyside come up with to help make Maggie's Kitchen Table Day 2020 a success. Especially this year when we have all the national and local restrictions to consider. Maggie's Merseyside relies entirely on voluntary donations to allow us to keep on developing our unique programme of free support for all those living with cancer in the area. We have seen a rise in the complex needs of people affected by cancer this year, our support is needed now more than ever. We're so grateful to people like Simone for continuing to raise funds during these challenging times."

Host a socially distanced or virtual event around your kitchen table in November to raise money for people with cancer. Register now for your free pack and bunting at:- Maggies.Org/KitchenTableDay.

To find out more about Maggie's Merseyside and to see how the Centre supports people living with cancer across The North West please visit the centre or get in touch on:- 01513344301 or email:- Liverpool@MaggiesCentres.Org.