News reports located on this page = 4.

Fatal flat fire in St Helens

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service attended a flat fire, on Albion Street, St Helens, on Sunday, 31 May 2020. Sadly, the incident involved 1 fatality. Crews were alerted at 12.48pm and on scene at 12.53pm. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) also attended the incident. Firefighters discovered the body of a man in a 1st floor flat. Despite 1st aid efforts from Fire Crews and NWAS paramedics, the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. 3 Fire Engines attended and 6 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using a high pressure hose reel jet. The fire was fully extinguished by around 1.35pm. A joint investigation between MFRS and Merseyside Police has been carried out and determined the fire started in the living room of the flat. Initial investigations indicate the fire was accidental and caused by a cigarette. Other flats in the vicinity were evacuated. No one else was injured as a result of the incident. Firefighters and prevention staff from MFRS will now go out into the community around Albion Street to reassure residents, leafleting properties and offering vital fire safety advice on the doorstep.

Mark Thomas, Group Manager for Prevention at MFRS, said:- "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man at this time. This was a tragic accident and one that could have been avoided. We would urge residents across Merseyside to ensure that they have smoke alarms installed in their homes; at least 1 on every level; and that they are tested regularly. We would also like to make a plea to smokers to make sure they are aware of the dangers that smoking in the home can cause. Initially, it appears that the incident was as a result of a cigarette. Smoking remains the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home nationally. If you do smoke, please make sure you do so safely. Never smoke in bed and take extra care when you're tired; it's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and it could easily set furniture alight. Please do not smoke when under the influence of drugs or alcohol and remember, make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished; put it out, right out."

GM Thomas added:- "It's also really important that people make sure their escape routes are free from any obstacles or clutter that may prevent them from safely exiting their property in the event of a fire. Keep your doors and window keys in a known and accessible place and make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in the event of a fire. It is also worth thinking of a second escape route in case the first one is blocked."

The deceased's next of kin have been informed by Merseyside Police.

These simple steps can help prevent cigarette and e-cigarette fires in the home:-

► Never smoke in bed. Take care when you're tired; it's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and it could easily set furniture alight.

► Never smoke when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If your lit cigarette starts a fire you could be less able to escape.

► Put it Out, Right Out! Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.

► 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. Never use a wastepaper basket to dispose of a cigarette butt.

► Keep matches out of children's reach.

► Never leave e-cigarettes on charge unattended for long periods of time.

► Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes.

► Only use the charger supplied with your device.

► Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette and charger from a reputable source and check the e-cigarette carries CE certification.

► Fit a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it weekly. Working smoke alarms can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call:- 999.

► Consider installing additional smoke alarms in rooms with electrical appliances or sleeping areas.

For fire safety advice, or if you do not have working smoke alarms in your home, please call:- 0800 731 5958.

Research team joins vital studies that will give a picture of the National Coronavirus Impact

RESEARCHERS from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust are deploying their skills to assist in the national fight against Coronavirus. The research and development team is collaborating with the research team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to assist with vital studies that will inform a picture of the national Coronavirus impact. The researchers, based at the Lantern Centre in Preston, have placed much of their usual research activity on hold while they help carry out vital studies into the pandemic. The team of 19 is made up of:- Research Nurses, Clinical Studies Officers, Clinical Trials Support Officers, Research Assistants and Research Admin, who usually conduct research activity on topics around:- mental health, dementia, diabetes, tissue viability, rheumatology and sexual health. They have recently joined up with other researchers in the area to help support a number of studies relating to Covid-19. 1 piece of work, run by Oxford University, is a national recovery trial looking into the different treatments for the virus, which is currently recruiting patients on critical care and following their recovery through to the wards. Another study is collecting data to show the demographics of those affected, including symptoms and medical history, which will feed into a national database to give an overview of the scale of the pandemic. A third investigation is looking at the triage of Coronavirus patients who are taken to accident and emergency departments.

Although they are used to making a difference with their usual workload, Lisa Wadeson, Senior Research Nurse at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, said the team is aware of the vital roles they are playing in the crisis. She said:- "All the work we are undertaking is going to be massively important for the future of this and of any future pandemics. Not only that, we believe there's going to be a lot more research coming out of this, especially around how it has impacted on people's mental health. It's an absolute honour and an exciting prospect to be involved in research that could potentially change the future and we're delighted to be given the chance to contribute our skills."

Previous work the team has carried out has included a large study on Meningitis B, working with the Oxford Vaccine Group, among college students to find out if immunising this particular age group with vaccines against meningitis B can reduce the number carrying the bacteria that is carried in the throat. This would be important because it could mean that teenage Men B immunisation would help protect teenagers against this potentially deadly disease, alongside the currently vaccinated babies, children and older adults who are now less likely to be exposed to the bacteria, reducing it across all ages. The study has vaccinated and obtained throat swabs from more than 1,000 students at colleges across Lancashire, and follow up visits are planned for September/October 2020. The team has also made a bid to be involved in trialling a new dementia drug, which, if successful, could begin in the autumn.

Merseyside charities scoop share of ₤1million fund

9 charities based in Merseyside have received donations of ₤1,000 each as part of the Movement for Good awards. The awards, set up by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, will see a total of ₤1million given to charities across the UK this summer. Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts, with 500 awards of ₤1,000 available for donation. Byrne Avenue Trust, Child Lung Foundation, Merseyside Water Rescue, Joseph Williamson Society and Wirral Animal Sanctuary are amongst the local charities set to benefit from the money, following overwhelming public support in the county. More than 1,070 kind hearted residents voted for a total of 67 charities across the Region. In total, an amazing 253,879 people around the UK supported the Movement for Good awards, with over 13,695 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes. The 500 winning charities were picked at random from those nominated.

Thanking supporters in Merseyside, Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said:- "We have seen an overwhelming public response to our Movement for Good awards and would like to thank every single person who took the time to nominate a good cause. It's clear that people care deeply about those in need in their Region at what is an incredibly testing time for many, and from looking at the nomination data locally, healthcare organisations seem to hold a particularly fond place in the hearts of residents. Ecclesiastical is a unique financial services group. We are owned by a charity which means all available profits can be given to the good causes that are so important to our customers. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of our business. We know that ₤1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we're looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better."

For more information about the Movement for Good awards and for a full list of the winning charities, visit:- Ecclesiastical.com. Later this summer, a further 10 charities will also be chosen by a panel of judges to receive ₤50,000 from Ecclesiastical to be put towards the advancement of:- education, skills, arts, culture and heritage, as well as citizenship or community development. From 15 June 2020, charities are invited to apply for the substantial grant with applications being assessed against four key areas; impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion. The successful charities will be announced from Monday, 21 September 2020.

Charity Retail Association launches volunteering matching service

THE Charity Retail Association (CRA) has launched an initiative to help match potential volunteers with charity shops when they reopen on or after the 15 June 2020. From Friday, 5 June 2020, members of the public who are potentially interested in volunteering can go to:- CharityShopVolunteer.Org.UK and sign up in a very simple and short process. Charity retailers who have vacancies will then be able to interrogate the database and identify potential volunteers according to their location and specific charity interest (eg:- medical research, animal welfare etc). The platform has been built free of charge by tech company Wil-U, who are on a mission to provide innovative technology that revolutionises how communities connect with charities. When charity shops start reopening we are anticipating that there will be a shortage of people to help out, as many existing volunteers will be unable to return straight away because of shielding, public transport issues, or just not wanting to leave their homes at this point. This initiative will help shops fill those gaps and allow potential volunteers an easy way to express an interest in contributing to the vital work that charity shops do in their communities and for their parent charities.

CEO of Wil-U, Richard Dorf, commented:- "we are delighted to have been able to help the charity retail sector recruit more volunteers through a simple but effective piece of technology. We are very keen to help establish more connections between charities and the communities in which they are located, and this seems to us to be an excellent way to do it."

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the CRA said:- "We are very grateful to Wil-U for providing this platform free of charge for the sector. Through it, many of our 400 members (who have between them around 9,000 shops) will be able to access a new pool of volunteers to help carry them through this critical reopening period alongside their highly valued existing volunteers. Volunteers in charity shops play an incredible role in creating a welcoming and friendly shopping environment for customers. Helping in a charity shop is a great way to help raise money for good causes, be part of the local community and to develop new skills."