Cigarette Main Cause of House Fires, Safe Cig Healthier
March 4, 2011 – Highlighting another reason why electronic cigarettes like Safe Cig are a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes, the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service of northeast England cites cigarettes as the main cause of death in local house fires. In 2010 alone, cigarette related fires accounted for 2 deaths and 28 injuries alone.
In response the department will team up with the “Fire Kills” campaign to launch a program on No Smoking day, March 9th. As part of the program area residents will be informed on ways to allay fire risks. Installing smoke alarms and testing them every week, for example doubles one’s chances to survive an accidental house fire.
Hebburn resident Doreen Jenkinson was around to offer her own story of survival: “I was sitting at the end of my bed, smoking a cigarette and when I finished, I put it out in the ashtray and went downstairs. The next thing I knew, there was smoke pouring out of my upstairs window and I had to get out of the house as quickly as I could and call the Fire and Rescue Service. I thought I had put the cigarette out but I mustn’t have put it out fully. Now, I never smoke in the house and I always make sure I put my cigarettes out properly. I urge anyone who smokes to do the same. The fire-fighters who came to the house said I had a lucky escape.”
Potential victims like Jenkinson have been informed by department officials and health professionals alike that switching to electronic cigarettes from traditional cigarettes immediately means not only less fire risk, but also less risk to bodily health. While studies are still early on the actual health benefits from electronic cigarettes like the Safe Cig, most smokers seem to agree that there are obvious advantages. And of course, no study is necessary to support that where there isn’t smoke, there won’t be fire. Doreen would have to agree.
Fire Department Area Manager John Baines added: “Doreen was very lucky. The incident could have ended up in tragedy. There are real dangers associated with smoking in the home and especially in bed where clearly it is easy to fall asleep. Whilst I would always urge any smokers to give up, I realise this isn’t easy. Where people do smoke, I would urge them to never smoke in bed and to always ensure their smoking materials are properly extinguished.” There is public health to also consider where smoking is concerned as Nonnie Crawford, Director of Public Health for Sunderland at NHS South of Tyne and Wear, said: “As well as being a safety hazard, smoking is a major cause of ill health and causes around 500 deaths in Sunderland every year. No Smoking Day is a perfect opportunity to think about quitting, and there are plenty of free NHS stop smoking support services to help you.”
Visit the Safe Cig review for more information on how to get one yourself.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.