Something for nothing!

Did you know you can get free smoke alarms from your local Fire Brigade (or Fire and Rescue Service, as they like to be called now)? One of the nurses asked me if I'd like a safety check at home, and considering I'm not as mobile as I was, I thought it was a good idea.

They told me a couple of things I didn't know before, such as you can be overcome by smoke within 15 breaths! After five you're feeling short of breath, after 10 you're feeling woozy, and after 15 you're down and out. Got to consider that if you're thinking of making a run for it though the smoke. Another thing they told me was how to break a double-glazed window if you're trapped in a room with a window that doesn't open: you hit the corner with a blunt instrument. If you start hitting the middle, you'll be there all day.

The smoke alarms they fit have 10 year batteries in them, so no more going out to the garage for a ladder in the middle of the night when they start going beep! beep! as the battery gets low. When the battery does run out, it gives a warning beep, and you dial a phone number to get the whole unit replaced. Oh, and I keep forgetting to clean it. These things have a little grill in them, and you just get the hoover onto that, and you're done. No having to get up there and open it.

Another 'did you know': a wooden door can hold back a fire for 30 minutes, so the best thing to do, if trapped in the house, is to shut yourself up in a room with a phone in it, stuff a blanket at the bottom of the door, and dial 999 (or 112).

I'd really recommend having this check done. You can find the number in your phone book.

There you go. A bit of safety advice, from someone who cares about you. :-)