West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, in partnership with local Parish/District Councils and other local organisations, now has eight S.A.V.E.D schemes running in the county. These schemes have been set up to provide free smoke-alarms for vulnerable, elderly and disadvantaged residents in the following Fire Station areas:

Bognor Regis, Chichester, Horsham, Shoreham, Bosham, East Wittering and Littlehampton, Worthing.

The scheme is run alongside the National Community Fire Safety initiative to increase people's awareness of smoke alarms and their importance in helping to make homes safer in the event of fire.

Statistics show that people are nine times more likely to survive a fire in their home if there is a working smoke alarm fitted in the property.

The benefits of a smoke alarm should not be under-estimated; a fire can start anywhere in the home at any time of day. A smoke alarm provides a vital early warning of a developing fire, allowing the occupants vital time to escape to safety and call the fire brigade.

The elderly and disadvantaged represent two of the groups most at risk in the county and the aim of the S.A.V.E.D scheme is to help protect them from the dangers of fire.

Anyone who thinks they, or someone they know, may be eligible for a free smoke alarm under the S.A.V.E.D scheme should contact their local scheme co-ordinator on the following telephone numbers. In most cases this is an answering service – please leave your name and contact details and our scheme co-ordinator will return your call.

Alternatively, for further information about the scheme, you can also contact the Services Community Fire Safety Section on .

People whose homes are already fitted with an alarm but are unable to maintain this or change the battery due to disability of infirmity, are also urged to contact the scheme co-ordinators on the numbers above.

A battery operated smoke alarm can cost as little as £4 and can be purchased from DIY and many other types of outlets. Installation is normally simple, all you have to do is follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Once you have a smoke alarm installed in your property it is vital that it is regularly maintained to ensure that it is in good working order at all times:

• Test smoke alarms once a week by pressing the test button
• Change the battery at least once a year. (This does not apply to 10 year smoke alarms)
  
• The sensor should also be vacuumed and wiped at least once a year to ensure that there is no dust blocking the sensor.
• Mains wired alarms should be switched off before doing this.

For further advice about smoke alarms and formulating an escape plan, click on the links below.

Plan Your Escape:
Smoke Alarms: