Scott Mann has joined fellow Cornish MP Derek Thomas in raising awareness of electrical safety in the home.
With winter now upon us and colder temperatures forecast, many older people are concerned about fuel bills and rely on portable electric heaters and electric blankets to keep warm. This, however, does increase the risk of fire in the home.
Electricity causes almost half of all domestic fires – most of which arise from electrical products - with the over 60s at far greater risk from them than any other age group. Almost 40% of deaths from portable heaters were of people aged 80 and over during 2013-2014. And it’s been estimated that damaged electric blankets are responsible for over 5,000 UK house fires each year.
To get some advice and support in highlighting the need for electrical safety for older people, Scott Mann attended a drop-in event held by Electrical Safety First and St Ives MP Derek Thomas.
Scott Mann said:
“As we live longer and tend to remain in properties for longer, regular home safety checks are often forgotten and electrical wiring and appliances tend to be older.
“Electrical Safety First’s campaign highlights how - by taking just a few moments to ensure electrical sockets, wires and cords are in good condition and sockets aren’t overloaded - can make a real difference to the safety of older relatives and friends”.
The Charity has regularly run a series of campaigns to increase awareness of electrical risk but this is the first time it has offered a ‘surgery’ for MPs.
“This winter we have been encouraging friends and family to check in on older people and look around for electrical danger”, adds Robert Jervis-Gibbons, Public Affairs Manager for the Electrical Safety First. “Providing MPs with a drop-in ‘surgery’ means we can offer them the information and material to help ensure their older constituents stay electrically safe, particularly in the winter months.”
The Charity has been calling for a free, five-yearly electrical safety check for all households with one person aged over 75 and statutory, five-yearly checks in all care homes. It has also developed information packs to help keep older people electrically safe this winter, which can be downloaded from http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-older-people/