Safety tips for Derbyshire residents heading on a camping break this Easter

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager Dean Gazzard said: “With the Easter break upon us many people take the opportunity to venture outdoors in a tent or caravan.

“We want people to enjoy the beautiful Derbyshire countryside safely and therefore ask that they take extra care to prevent accidents occurring.

“Each year we hear of tragedy’s where people have been killed when bringing a BBQ into a tent or caravan to provide extra warmth. BBQ’s will produce carbon monoxide which is a silent killer.

“I ask that everyone planning an Easter trip follow our safety advice, as we want everyone’s weekend to be enjoyable and not turn into a holiday nightmare.”

For more information regarding keeping safe outdoors and in the home, please visit www.derbys-fire.gov.uk

Tents

• Allow at least 6m spacing between tents and caravans and ensure they are away from parked cars to reduce the risk of fire spreading

• Never use candles in or near a tent – torches are safer.

• Keep cooking appliances away from the tent walls and never cook inside a small tent or near flammable materials or long grass; they can all set alight easily.

• Make sure you know how to escape by cutting your way out of the tent if there’s a fire.

• Make sure everyone knows how to put out clothing that’s on fire – stop, drop and roll.

• Don’t smoke inside tents.

• Never bring a BBQ inside your tent – carbon monoxide builds up and can kill

Caravans

• Fit and test a smoke alarm in your caravan.

• Take special care when cooking – don’t leave pans unattended.

• Turn off all appliances before you go out or to bed.

• Make sure ashtrays are made of a material that can’t burn or topple over –never smoke in bed.

• Don’t dry clothes over the stove.

• Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading.

• Make sure the caravan is ventilated, and never block air vents, to avoid a build up of poisonous gases.

• Never bring a BBQ inside your caravan – carbon monoxide builds up and can kill

Open Fires

• If you must have an open fire:

• It should be downwind, at least 10m from the tent.

• Clear dry vegetation, leaves, etc, to form a circle of earth around the fire.

• Build a stack that will collapse inwards whilst burning.

• Do not leave fires unattended.

If a fire does break out

• Call 999 and give the exact location.

• If necessary give a map reference or landmark such as a pub

• Grass and forest fires spread rapidly

• Never throw cigarette ends out of car window – they could start a fire and ruin surrounding countryside.

• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodlands.  Sunlight shining through glass can start a fire.  Take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.

If you discover a fire:

• Do not be tempted to investigate, call 999.

• Leave the area as quickly as possible and ring for the fire and rescue service.

• Do not return unless the fire and rescue service tells you that it is safe to do so.