We’ve covered how common kitchen fires are and what to do to cook safely, as well as how to keep other rooms protected, maintain your fire equipment, and childproof your fire risks. However, there are other regular checks you should perform to keep your home and family safe. Here are a few we think may be helpful.

Family profile checks

When it comes to all the fire safety steps we cover for emergency situations on this Unii Journey, from understanding and practicing the escape plan to calling the emergency services, any personal or medical issues that affect people in your home matter. They can impact the entire family’s ability to stay fire-safe and should be noted and regularly managed. Health concerns can emerge unexpectedly, and even long-term conditions are constantly evolving. You may find it useful to keep profiles for each family member, especially if emergency services need to be informed of their special needs when contacted. You can also adapt your family’s home fire escape plan accordingly. Here are some examples of cases that can affect fire safety:

We’ve covered how using alcohol and drugs or smoking is a fire risk while cooking or using candles or electrical equipment. You may need to develop strategies to accommodate a family member with addiction issues.

Physical disabilities and mobility problems may mean someone needs a special alarm or other supportive equipment in their room, as well as a special escape plan.

Respiratory illnesses like asthma can make escaping quickly more difficult.

Cognitive conditions like dementia can make a family member especially vulnerable to fire risks, as they may forget to take precautions. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than one million. Working with your local community to support elderly people living alone with this condition now will help you plan if someone in your family gets ill in the future.

Developmental disorders like ADHD and cerebral palsy manifest differently in sufferers and can impact a child’s or an adult’s ability to respond to fire.

Lesser considered concerns may be how a member of the household suffering from depression or other (sometimes unpredictable) mental health problems might not be able to respond as quickly to a fire.

Try working with your GP, local fire service, or support organisations for you or your family member’s condition on a checklist to ensure all your fire safety bases are covered.

Bedtime checks

By this stage of this Unicorn Journey, you’ll know that kitchen fires are more common than those elsewhere in the house. Hour-wise, fires are more common during the day than at night, but it’s still important to make simple safety checks before you go to bed. They take just a few minutes, and a great routine can save lives. Nighttime fires put our family at greater risk because not only are we sleeping upstairs, which is further away from our exit, but unnoticed, the fire has more time to develop. Just having these checks in place can give everyone in the house peace of mind.

Here are steps you can easily adapt for your home and family:

Check that you’ve shut all your internal doors to prevent smoke from spreading if a fire starts.
Turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on, like your fridge or freezer.
Make sure nobody leaves the washing machine, tumble dryer, or dishwasher on overnight and unattended.
Don’t leave any mobile phones, tablets, or e-cigarettes charging overnight.
Check that your hob and oven switches are all off. Use the main isolation switch.
Turn your heaters off, rake out fires, and put a fire guard in place.
As we’ve covered, you must put all candles, incense sticks, and oil burners out and never leave them burning when you are asleep.
Ensure cigarettes are completely out—wet them to be sure.
Never smoke in bed; it's best to quit, but if you can't, swap for an e-cigarette.
Make sure escape routes are clear of anything that may slow your escape.
Keep door and window keys where everyone you live with can find them.
If you or anyone else in the home has mobility issues, ensure mobility aids and methods of calling for help (like emergency pendants) are close at hand in case help is needed to assist with an escape.

Charging and battery safety checks

Managing the little things can make a big impact. Battery-operated devices and chargers are essential to home and work life and are often set down on the floor or low surfaces like the bedside table for convenience. This puts them within easy reach of babies and children. They need to be used and maintained correctly, and it’s up to parents to keep an eye on them.

Are lithium batteries a fire risk?

Lithium batteries are light, rechargeable batteries that power our phones, laptops, and cameras. They're found in many electrical devices, from mobility scooters to e-cigarettes, and are used safely by most people every day. They pose no fire risks when used properly. They can present a fire risk when overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged.

Fire safety checks for chargers

Always use the charger that came with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette, or mobile device.

If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust.

Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.

Protect batteries against being damaged, including being crushed, punctured, or immersed in water.

Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete; it's best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight, for example.

Never cover chargers or charging devices—that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.

When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium-ion batteries together, especially on a plane. Check with your flight carrier for additional information or advice.

As we’ve mentioned in previous episodes, you should never overload your sockets.

Counterfeit electrical chargers can be deadly; many fail to meet UK safety regulations, leading to fires and injury. What may seem like a bargain at the market isn't worth the risk when you consider that it could cost a family member's life.

Deliberate fire prevention checks

Arson is a more common problem for businesses than homes, but you may have troublemakers near where you live or be targeted for a random attack. Bins and skips, for example, can be popular targets. If there is known antisocial behaviour, fly tripping, or people deliberately setting fires in your area, it is important to report these to the police or relevant authority rather than confront potentially violent people yourself.

How can I help reduce the risk of arson in my home?

Do not allow rubbish to build up anywhere around your premises, and clean up regularly.
If possible, ensure access to where waste is stored (such as the refuse area of an apartment building) is restricted to keep temptation out of sight.
Try not to overfill bins and keep them securely shut.
Store bins away from buildings, where possible, to prevent the spread of fire.
For communal bin stores, keep doors shut and follow the property management instructions.
For properties with communal areas, e.g., purpose-built flats, keep these areas clear of rubbish and do not use this area to store anything; keep your exit clear.
Consider security lighting.
Skips should be located away from the property, and collection should be arranged as soon as it has been filled.
Fire can easily spread from trees to houses; try to keep trees pruned, especially near houses, to reduce the risk.
Arsonists rarely bring combustible items with them but tend to use what is available on the site.

How can I make fire safety checks at home?

Unii looks at some practical ways to keep your home and family fire-safe.