Taking Care of Safety.

          
Tuesday, 18th December, 2012.
Kings Bromley Marina.

There is simply no excuse these days for boats not to be fitted with smoke detectors and a CO detector.

We called Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service back in 2009 after reading a leaflet pinned on the notice board at the Marina, we arranged for them to inspect our boat and fit smoke detectors in the area's where they though they would be most beneficial.

Their view was that four would cover the boat and supplied them free of charge, they were prepared to fit them, but we fitted them ourselves, only two screws each.

The name on the detectors is "Fire Angel" and are described as toast proof, meaning that they don't go off when cooking or making toast (bit obvious that).

We hope we never hear it.

 

We have one fitted at the front of the boat in the area where the solid fuel stove is, another in the kitchen, one in the bedroom and one at the rear in what we call the utility room where the washing machine and electrical cupboard are, we already had a CO detector and followed the advice regarding the best location.

We test them regularly, last week we found one not working so removed it, Jayne called into Lichfield fire station and explained the situation and was offered not only a free replacement but another visit.  So on Friday afternoon a Fire Appliance came through the gates and turned onto the carpark, two of the crew came down to the boat, one carrying a large plastic toolbox.

Once on board they replaced the faulty detector, had a general look around including the solid fuel stove and gave advice about what to do in case of a fire including escape routes, I often think about that when we see boats with people on board and a padlock on the rear access hatch.

There's no excuse for not having smoke detectors, there free and so is the professional advice.