It’s Boat Fire Safety Week 2014 next week (26-30 May) and canal and river boat owners are being asked to pass on tips via Facebook and Twitter to others to help stay safe from fire and carbon monoxide (CO) risks.
In the past 20 years more than 30 boaters have been killed in boat fires and just over 30 have lost their lives to the ‘silent killer’ carbon monoxide. There has already seen one fatal boat fire and three people have died from CO poisoning.
The safety week is timed for the start of the peak boating season, and the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) and other organisations will be Tweeting and posting tips and prompt sheets during the week with the hope that boaters will not just act on the advice, but pass it on too.
BSS Manager Graham Watts said: “During Boat Fire Safety Week firefighters will be talking to thousands of boat owners, handing out leaflets to alert people to the risks and help them protect themselves and their passengers.
“Hopefully the advice and safety messages will be picked up and passed on along the towpaths, pontoons and berths to help reduce the numbers of incidents.”
The Fire Safety on Boats leaflet provides tips on how to protect your boat and, most importantly, your crew from fire, as well as what to do if a fire breaks out. This leaflet together with Carbon Monoxide Safety on Boats is available at boatyards and marinas.
For further information about Boat Fire Safety Week and boat fire and CO safety advice, visit www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe.
