Smokers urged to 'Put it Out, Right Out'

Smokers are today (10 March) being urged to quit their habit or realise its danger, as statistics reveal that a third of those who die in accidental house fires, die in fires started by cigarettes.

Despite this shocking wake-up call, less than half (40%) of smokers are aware that smoking is the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires.

Smokers who are unable to give up should at least cut out dangerous habits such as smoking in bed. The Fire Kills campaign is encouraging people to install smoke alarms on every level of the home and test them weekly.

A smoke alarm that works means you are more than twice as likely to survive an accidental house fire.

The Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Sir Ken Knight says: "Without an early alarm system in place you lose valuable escape time. Just two to three breaths of toxic smoke can render a person unconscious - it affects a person's ability to breathe, like drowning in toxic smoke as shown in the current Fire Kills campaign."

"People need to be aware of the risks of smoking in the home and how smoking materials can very easily lead to fires. When extinguishing cigarettes smokers must make sure they 'put it out, right out'."

Boxing commentator Steve Bunce is supporting the campaign. His mother smoked in his family home and when he was fourteen years old Steve was involved in an accidental house fire, he says:

"When I was a boy living at home I was caught in a fire. The speed at which the fire started is something that I will never forget. My mum fell asleep whilst smoking. Her cigarette toppled from an ashtray and started to burn through the sofa. Just as the sofa caught fire, my mother awoke and screamed loudly waking everybody up. Had my mother not woken up I might not be here today. It scared my mum so much that she gave up for a day!"

Dan Tickle, Chief Executive of the No Smoking Day Charity says: "Seventy per cent of smokers want to stop, but aren't aware that there is free, local help available to them. Your local stop smoking service can increase your chances of success by four times. Why not take the first step this No Smoking Day and feel fitter, healthier and safer in your home."

For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home:

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

- Fit smoke alarm and test it weekly - a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999

- Never smoke in bed, take care when you're tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight

- 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.

- Close all inside doors at night - closed doors help to reduce the spread of fire, giving you more time to escape.

Ask the experts - Fire and Rescue Services in England offer free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them and they may offer to fit a smoke alarm free of charge.

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