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   ;)  Fire Service says don't gamble with your life when the chips are down!Are you prepared to gamble with your life? That is the stark question Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is asking as National Chip Week begins (15 - 21 February). Between 1 January - 31 December 2009 there were 259* accidental fires caused by chip pans in Greater Manchester, resulting in 106 people needing medical treatment. The Service is advising against the public tackling these types of fire, as it is all too easy to get seriously injured whilst trying to do so. In addition the Service is recommending that people get rid of their old fashioned chip pans and replace them with deep fat fryers, which have a thermostat to control the temperature of the oil, or better still use oven chips, which have the added health benefits. Chief Fire Officer for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Steve McGuirk said “It would seem that most people’s excuse for having a chip pan is that the chips taste better. I would question whether they taste good enough to die for? It’s all too easy for someone to put a chip pan on, get distracted or fall asleep resulting in a fire occurring, sometimes with tragic consequences”. The Service has issued the following guidance:- Use oven chips instead - but if you do fry chips only cook them in a deep fat fryer with a thermostatic control. * Never leave cooking unattended * Never cook food after returning home from a night out at the pub, or when you have had a drink. * If you are unfortunate enough to have a fire, switch the heat off if it’s safe to do so, close the door on the fire, make sure everyone in the house is aware of the fire, get out, dial 999 and stay out until the fire service say it is safe to go back in. * Always remember Get out, Stay out, Call us out! * Make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm per floor level in your home.
For safety advice during the winter period click here
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