The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has launched new resources on fire safety aimed at domiciliary care providers:
- A video which gives advice on fire risks posed by emollient creams dried on to clothing, bandages and bedding: NFCC Carers advice Emollients on Vimeo. The video contains useful information to share with care teams - they should be aware that emollients with or without petroleum/paraffin carry a fire risk, if dried on to fabric, and not all packaging contains a warning. (Please note some video content is distressing, with discussion about fatalities.) A Welsh version is available at: Final Welsh carers emollient video on Vimeo.
- A new NFCC Initial fire risk checklist for domiciliary care providers, developed specifically for our sector to assist with person-centred risk assessments, which contains advice on fire safety in the home.
- The NFCC’s Know the Fire Risk emollient safety page. Scroll down to read sector-specific information: ‘Reducing Risk: Information for Carers and Support Workers’.
- An Online home fire safety check which provides a route for care providers to refer individual cases to local fire services for advice, with their consent.
In addition, Homecare Association resources, recently updated with assistance from NFCC, are available at:
- Fire safety for homecare providers: Questions and Answers
- Emollient skin creams - Guidance for homecare providers on fire safety.
Our thanks to NFCC for producing sector-specific resources and their help in reviewing our resources.
