Stay safe on bonfire night
Fire services across the Meridian region are urging everyone to stay safe this bonfire night. Here are their top bonfire night safety tips
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Warming up for Winter - get your electric blanket tested
Hampshire council is offering people the chance to get their electric blankets checked for safety.
The County Council’s Trading Standards Service has teamed up with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and local councils to offer the free safety checks at venues across the county in October 2012.
In the last 15 years alone, almost 15,000 blankets have been tested in Hampshire with approximately 45% of these failing the safety checks.
The main problems are that many are old, worn out, have poor wiring, broken controls or offer no protection against over-heating.
Details of when and where the testing will take place can be found on Hampshire's Trading Standards website.
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Conservatory built over gas flue
A Kent double glazing company has been fined for safety failiures after building a conservatory over a gas flue.
Family firm Supaglazing, of Strood, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for breaching gas safety regulations for the second time.
Dartford Magistrates Court was told that the firm’s workers built the conservatory over an existing flue for a boiler at a property on Beavor Road, Allington, Maidstone, so there was no escape route for gases and other combustion products.
A woman who was pregnant and a child were living in the home.
The incident came to light after an engineer visited the house to give an estimate for relocating the flue.
The firm, with outlets in Dartford and Sittingbourne, admitted breaching the gas safety regulations between 23 July and 2 October 2010. It was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £2,826 in costs.
Plea for safety at sea this summer
Safety fears over river swimming
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service isurging people not to swim in inland waters such as rivers, canals and lakes after three people were rescued from the River Thames in Windsor during the early hours of this morning.
Jess James, Station Manager at Caversham explains:
“It’s important to be aware that while the surface of the water may feel fairly warm, the rest of it is still very cold. This can make your muscles tire out very quickly and can cause cold shock. Drinking alcohol can make things even worse.
“It’s difficult to judge the depth of the water - jumping or diving can cause serious injuries or even death.
“ Discarded shopping trolleys and rubbish such as broken glass are a real hazard, as are unseen currents and reeds, which can affect even the strongest swimmers."
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