Have you checked your alarms?

Did you know that you’re seven times more likely to survive a fire in your home if you have working smoke alarms?

That’s because smoke alarms gives families vital time to get out, before rooms are filled with poisonous black smoke. The smoke can kill babies and young children in minutes.

“Liking a post on Facebook takes the same amount of time as testing a smoke alarm. And it could just save you and your loved ones’ lives.”

According to the Fire Kills campaign, last year, 248 people lost their lives due to a fire at home. Many of these could have been prevented.

Press to test: Monthly is best

We’re supporting the Fire Kills Press to test: Monthly is best safety campaign, which encourages us all to get into the habit of testing our smoke alarms once a month.

Just press the test button and, if it beeps, it’s working. If an alarm doesn’t beep when you test it, either replace the battery or, if it’s a sealed smoke alarm, replace the alarm itself.

Help us spread the word

Can you help us spread the word about fire safety?

Find practical safety tips to share, plus activity ideas and useful links in our fire safety download for Child Safety Week.
Share this downloadable fire safety advice booklet for parents and carers from Fire Kills.
Show this short video about fire safety featuring CAPT’s Chief Executive.
Like CAPT on Facebook for tips and posts you can easily share with the families you work with.
Follow and RT us on Twitter @CAPTcharity.

Getting into the testing habit

With busy family lives, it can be hard to get into the habit of testing our smoke alarms. That’s why we’ve teamed up with WatchTower Giraffe.

The Giraffe is designed to make it easy to reach alarms without climbing on chairs or stools. And he comes with his own full-colour illustrated story book for children. Once they get involved, their pester power definitely encourages us grown-ups to test the smoke alarms each month!

The WatchTower Giraffe costs just £9.99 including P&P. And £1 from each Giraffe sold is donated to the Child Accident Prevention Trust, to help fund our charity’s essential work.

If you need a new smoke alarm…

If you need to replace a smoke alarm that has failed the test, or you’re following fire service advice to fit a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, look no further than our online shop.

We’ve a 10-year smoke alarm with ground breaking smoke-sensing technology. The alarm costs £21.79 including P&P, which is just 4p a week over the 10-year warranty period. And again there’s a donation to CAPT from each alarm sold.

And remember that all UK fire and rescue services provide free home fire safety checks. They fit free smoke alarms in the homes of the most vulnerable families and some offer this service to all families.

Make sure the families you work with know how to find out more. Find details of your local fires service here.

Latest

Hair straighteners can cause deep burns that can scar for life

If a curling wand or new hair straighteners were on the top of your Christmas list this year, you may be feeling beautiful and bouncy. But, beware straighteners and wands can get as hot as your iron and stay hot even after they’re switched off.
Button batteries

Button batteries are the small, round batteries you find in a growing number of toys and everyday objects like remote controls and car key fobs. They can be extremely dangerous for children if swallowed. What should you do in an emergency?
Christmas unwrapped ... safely

Everything is a toy when children are little. With all the excitement and busyness, it’s easy for little hands to find things that are dangerous.
Toy Safety

While toys sold by well-known, reputable stores are generally safe, toys, novelty items and dressing-up clothes that you can buy in online marketplaces, markets or discount stores may not be. Take care and don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe.

Christmas unwrapped ... safely

Everything is a toy when children are little. With all the excitement and busyness, it’s easy for little hands to find things that are dangerous.
Toy Safety

While toys sold by well-known, reputable stores are generally safe, toys, novelty items and dressing-up clothes that you can buy in online marketplaces, markets or discount stores may not be. Take care and don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe.
Scare safely this Hallowe'en #ScareSafely

Keep yourself and your children safe this Hallowe'en by following our top tips. This advice will help you and your children to buy safe costumes, trick or treat safely and enjoy Hallowe'en.
Carbon Monoxide: "The Silent Killer"

Carbon monoxide gas can kill. It’s known as the ‘silent killer’ for a very good reason: you can’t see it, smell it or taste it.
Danger on the changing mat

Imagine keeping a bunch of carrier bags within baby’s reach on the changing mat, under the cot mattress or knocking around your children’s bedroom floor – you just wouldn’t would you?
Focus on choking prevention

Choking is one of the biggest causes of accidental death in the under 5s. Once parents understand the nature of the risk, they’re better equipped to take preventative measures. Here, we take a detailed look at why it’s such a serious risk for children.
We support Safer Sleep Week!

A survey of over 8,500 parents carried out by The Lullaby Trust has shown that 40% of parents have co-slept in dangerous circumstances such as on a sofa, having drunk alcohol or as a smoker.
Fire Safety

Families are almost three times more likely to die in fires that start in the night – if they don’t have working smoke alarms, they breathe in the poisonous smoke and never wake up.
Choking

Each day around 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous. Be particularly aware of sweet items such as mini eggs around Easter time - these are exactly the same size as a toddler's airway.
Family life today: where's the risk?

This years’ Child Safety Week runs from Monday 3rd June to Sunday 9th June 2019. Have you signed up?

Action pack & poster - download for free!

Download the free 2019 Child Safety Week Action Pack for inspiration including tips, advice, activities, competitions and quizzes.
Button batteries

Button batteries are the small, round batteries you find in a growing number of toys and everyday objects like remote controls and car key fobs. They can be extremely dangerous for children if swallowed. What should you do in an emergency?
Why are grapes so dangerous?

Doctors have issued a stark warning that young children can choke to death on whole grapes.
Safety advice - The 'why' as well as the 'what'

With just a little bit of a deeper understanding – understanding the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’ – parents are much better placed to help protect their children from a serious accidental injury.
Choking

Each day around 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous. Be particularly aware of sweet items such as mini eggs around Easter time - these are exactly the same size as a toddler's airway.
About Child Safety Week

Child Safety Week is run by Child Accident Prevention Trust to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented. #childsafetyweek
In-car safety

In-car safety can be a confusing area for parents and carers. You may find that you're not completely clear about the law, are unsure of the safest way for a child to travel, aren't using the most appropriate restraint or have badly fitting child car seats or booster seats which put a child at risk.
Burns and scalds

95% of all childhood burns and scalds happen at home. Most are caused in the day-to-day situations that many parents don’t anticipate, like children reaching for hot coffee or grabbing hair straighteners.
Parents

Parents play down the life-saving role they play, but the truth is, the small actions we all take day-in, day-out to prevent accidents from happening in the first place are as just as heroic as rescuing children after an accident has happened.
Falls

Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury to children. While most falls aren’t serious – active children often fall over – some falls can lead to death or long-term disability.

Sign up to receive CAPT newsletters

Want to learn more about childhood accidents and what works in preventing them? Sign up for CAPT newsletters. Read more

Button batteries

Button batteries are the small, round batteries you find in a growing number of toys and everyday objects like remote controls and car key fobs. They can be extremely dangerous for children if swallowed. What should you do in an emergency? Read more