As the Easter weekend fast approaches the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and the South West National Farmers Union have both sent out advice and requests to the public.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is again asking local people to avoid having bonfires. Not only are they a danger to environmental health but the Service is keen to reduce the number of calls it has to attend in order to minimise the potential exposure of firefighters to coronavirus.
The Public Protection Partnership said, “A lot of people at home are vulnerable and any one of your neighbours might have respiratory issues or even be fighting the coronavirus itself. During this difficult time please put their needs first.
You can stockpile green waste, create a compost area or simply let the job wait until the civic amenity sites can re-open to the public.”
Other fire safety tips include:
- Taking extra care if having barbecues, and not disposing of the ashes until they are completely cold. Never leaving cooking unattended in the kitchen.
- Taking care not to overload sockets – easy to do when working from home or trying to keep children occupied.
- Being careful of leaving matches or lighters lying about when children are in the house.
- Only smoking outdoors if possible and disposing of cigarette ends, matches etc carefully. If smoking indoors, make sure ashtrays are on a secure, level surface.
- If you’re smoking while making an essential car journey, don’t throw cigarette ends or matches out of the window, as this could lead to grass fires.
- While enjoying exercise outside in the sunshine, please follow all the Government advice but also avoid doing anything that may lead to a fire starting.
Area Manager Ian Jeary said: “We are still responding to emergencies, but the very nature of the firefighter’s job makes social distancing almost impossible. As such, we are asking the public to take even more care than usual, to help us stay safe and therefore stay available for when our vital support is needed the most.”
The South West NFU is urging anyone using public rights of way to maintain social distancing of at least two metres from other people, to follow the countryside code, keep dogs on leads near livestock and pick up any mess, which can be a health hazard for farm animals.
Whilst exercise is permitted once a day during the current lockdown, farmers have been finding that, as other outdoor areas are effectively closed to the public, many more people than usual have been out and about on footpaths and public rights of way.
Many of these run close to farm buildings and livestock and there are concerns that walkers ignoring the rules could unintentionally pass on the potentially deadly coronavirus to farmers, some of whom may be in one of the ‘at risk’ groups or self-isolating. People not sticking to paths has led to valuable grass and crops – used for animal feed or harvested later in the year – being trampled.
NFU South West regional director Melanie Squires said: “We all recognise the benefits of getting out and enjoying the countryside which our farmers look after and maintain, especially at a difficult time when people need to take extra care to maintain their physical and mental health, but it’s vital we all keep to the rules.
“The health of those living and working in the countryside also has to be safeguarded to ensure that safe, local, high-standard British food keeps coming, and walkers need to be aware of their role in protecting rural people and their livelihoods. It is also a busy time in the farming calendar with plenty of young lambs and calves around and we ask dog owners to take extra precautions when walking through farmland. “
Current Government guidance is:
• Stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily
• You should only go outside alone or with members of your own household
• Keep at least two metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times
• Gatherings of more than two in parks or other public spaces have been banned and the police will enforce this
• Take hygiene precautions when you are outside, and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors
• If walking your dog in areas used by other people, you should walk your dog on a lead to ensure you can safely keep two metres away from others.
(From www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces)
Fire safety tips for indoors and outdoors can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/safety
Also on the Fire Service website are a range of fun activities and educational resources to entertain children during the coronavirus lockdown. The C19 Heroes are on hand to help children understand the importance of handwashing, staying at home, keeping fit and healthy, and looking out for others.
Amongst the activities already on-line are colouring sheets, spot the difference games, fitness videos and regular ‘glue and make’ sessions, including finger puppets and paper plate hats!
All of this can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/education with new games also highlighted through the Service’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts @DWFireRescue.
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