Have a scorch-free summer

With temperatures predicted to reach up to 30 degrees this weekend, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue service would like to remind residents of our top tips for a safe scorch-free summer.

This guidance aims to support the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) campaign for greater outdoor fire safety awareness. This month-long campaign raises awareness around the potential risks that activities such as camping, barbecuing and water safety can pose. In order to stay safe in the sun, RBFRS is asking residents to follow a few simple safety tips.

• Avoid the over consumption of alcohol if you are on cooking duty, barbecues must be monitored carefully to avoid any fire risks.
• Keep your barbecue away from flammable materials such as foliage, tents and dry grass.
• Keep sand or water nearby in case of an emergency.
• Be careful when refuelling your barbecue and other fuelled appliances, do not do this whilst they’re still hot.

• Do not place flammable materials near your tent, stick to torches instead of candles, matches or lanterns. This includes not smoking inside your tent. Ashes from lit cigarettes are able to melt fabric and start fires.
• Make emergency plans in advance. Know where your nearest emergency phone is and know the fire meeting point if you are staying at a campsite.

• Keep flammable and hazardous materials away from children.
• Children should not be left unsupervised around barbecues, campfires and other sources of heat or fire.

• Hot, dry weather makes the ground more susceptible to wildfires, so take extra caution during this period.
• Do not dispose of cigarettes on the ground, and always ensure that they have been extinguished before throwing them away.
• Avoid lighting open fires in the countryside.
• Glass, and other reflective materials, can start fires if left in direct sunlight. To avoid this, ensure that these items are disposed of carefully and are not left in the sun.
• Call 999 if you encounter a wildfire, noting the location of the fire and meeting them at a designated safe-point. Do not attempt to tackle the blaze yourself.

• Do not swim or jump into lakes, quarries, canals or rivers.
• If you encounter somebody who has fallen: Call 999 and identify the specific location of the person.
• Do not enter the water to help the fallen individual, instead give them a focus by shouting “swim to me”.
• If there are life aids, such as life buoys or throw bags, throw them to the individual. If using the individual is attached to a rope, make sure it is secured so that you can pull them towards land.

For more information about how to stay safe outdoors, please visit rbfrs.co.uk/your-safety/warm-weather-advice.