GWASANAETH TÂN AC ACHUBCanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru

Mid and West WalesFIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Working together for a safer Wales

fire safetYon Boats

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Did you know?Alarms and detectors save lives• Onaverage,89firerelatedaccidentsandinjuriesoccuronboats

everyyear.• Firesonprivatelyownedboatskillatleastthreepeopleeveryyear.Thisleafletprovidestipsandadviceonhowtoprotectyourboatandcrewfromfire,andwhattodoshouldafirebreakout.

Fire can spread quickly on a boat, even on water. Alarms and detectors can help keep your crew safe.

Smoke alarms• Opticalsensoralarmswith

hushbuttonsand‘sealedforlife’batteriesarebestforboats.Visitwww.boatsafetyscheme.com/fireforadviceandguidance.

• Fitalarmsinplacesyouwillhearthemclearlyiftheygooff.

• Considerinstallinglinkedalarmsthatwillgooffatthesametime.

• Testthealarmwhenyouboard.Neverdisconnectitorremoveworkingbatteries.

Carbon monoxide (CO) and gas detectors• FitaCOdetectortoalert

youtoanypoisonouscarbonmonoxide.

• CheckyourdetectorissuitableformarineuseandmeetstheBS7860orEN50291standards.

• Fitabubbletypeleakdetectorinthegaslocker.

• Pushthedetectorbuttonroutinelytocheckforleaksinthegassystem.

• Lookoutforthese‘approved’symbolswhenbuyingalarmsanddetectors:

Fit alarms and detectors to stay safe

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Safe cooking and heatingTurn cooking appliances off properly after use.

• Neverleavecookingunattended.Turnthingsoffuntilyoucomeback.

• Beextracarefulwhencookingwithoil–itcancatchfire.

• Avoidcookingwhentired.Remember,prescriptiondrugsandalcoholcancausedrowsiness.

• Keepthecookingareaclean–abuild-upofgreasecouldstartafire.

• Asparkdevice(proprietarygas-lighter)isthesafestwaytolightastovewithoutitsownigniter.

• Standardbarbecuesshouldn’tbeusedonboats.

• Keepcabinventilationcleartopreventabuild-upoftoxicCO.

• Trytokeepfabricsawayfromcookinghobstopreventthemfromcatchingfire.

• Checkthefluesofcoalandwoodburningstovesforsignsofleaksandblockages.

• Onlyusethefuelrecommendedbytheheatermanufacturer.Othertypesmayburntoohot.

• Disposeofemberscarefully.Ifthey’restillwarmtheycouldcauseafireorbuild-upofCO.

• Ensureallhobshaveshut-offorisolationvalves.

Turn appliances off properly after use.

Did you know?Alarms and detectors save lives• Onaverage,89firerelatedaccidentsandinjuriesoccuronboats

everyyear.• Firesonprivatelyownedboatskillatleastthreepeopleeveryyear.Thisleafletprovidestipsandadviceonhowtoprotectyourboatandcrewfromfire,andwhattodoshouldafirebreakout.

Carbon monoxide (CO) and gas detectors• FitaCOdetectortoalert

youtoanypoisonouscarbonmonoxide.

• CheckyourdetectorissuitableformarineuseandmeetstheBS7860orEN50291standards.

• Fitabubbletypeleakdetectorinthegaslocker.

• Pushthedetectorbuttonroutinelytocheckforleaksinthegassystem.

• Lookoutforthese‘approved’symbolswhenbuyingalarmsanddetectors:

Fit alarms and detectors to stay safe

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Protecting the inside of your boat

Cigarettes Furnishings

Put cigarettes out properly.

Dispose of cigarettes carefully. Put them out, right out!

• Keepcigarettesorpipesawayfromanythingthatcouldcatchfire,suchascurtains.

• Neversmokewhenrefuellingorchangingagascylinder.

• Useaproperashtraythatwillstaystableontheboat.

• Avoidsmokingwhenyou’resleepytoavoidanaccident.

• Emptyashtraysregularly.Abuild-upofashcouldcatchfire.

• Trytochoosefurniturethatcarriesthefire-resistantlabel.

• Keepfabricsandpaperawayfromanythinghotlikehobs,fluesandlightbulbs.

• Heatfromlightbulbscancausefires.Energysavinglightbulbsdonotgetashotandarethereforesafer.

• Takeextracarewithlitcandles.Don’tleavethemunattended.

• Onlyusesecureholders,asarockingboatorsuddenjoltcouldtipcandlesover.

• Asnufferisthesafestwaytoputoutacandletoavoidsparksflying.

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Fuel and power safety

Maintain your boat’s engine and fuel systems regularly.

Make sure you check and maintain your boat’s fuel, gas and electrical systems on a regular basis.

Engine maintenance

• Don’tletoilordebrisbuild-upinthebilges.

• Inspectthelaggingofengineandheaterexhaustsfordamageanddeteriorationandnearbyitemsforheatdamageorcharring.

• Checkexhaustsystemsofinboardenginesforleaks.

• Checkforloosefueljoints,damagedfueltanksordeterioratinghoses.

Fuel safety

• Takecarewhenrefuelling.Putoutnakedflamesfirst.Turnofftheengineandcookingbeforehandlinganyfuel.

• Preventpetrolvapourfromenteringtheboatbyclosingthedoors,windowsorhatchesandclosingtheawning.

• Refueloutboardenginesandgeneratorswellawayfromtheboat.

• Leaks,spillsandvapourcanigniteeasily.Cleanthemupstraightawayandmakesurefillercapsaresecureafterrefuelling.

• Onlycarrysparepetrolifnecessaryandstoreitinaself-draininglockerondeck.

• Trytochoosefurniturethatcarriesthefire-resistantlabel.

• Keepfabricsandpaperawayfromanythinghotlikehobs,fluesandlightbulbs.

• Heatfromlightbulbscancausefires.Energysavinglightbulbsdonotgetashotandarethereforesafer.

• Takeextracarewithlitcandles.Don’tleavethemunattended.

• Onlyusesecureholders,asarockingboatorsuddenjoltcouldtipcandlesover.

• Asnufferisthesafestwaytoputoutacandletoavoidsparksflying.

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Fuel and power safety

Gas safety

• Ensuregasappliancesareinstalledandmaintainedroutinelybytrainedfitters.

• Neverrestrictairflowbyblockingventsorairgaps.

• Makesuregascylindersaresecureafterthey’vebeenchanged.Testforleakswithdetectionfluid.

• Wheneverpossible,turngasvalvesoffbeforeyougotobedorleavetheboat.

• Replacegashosesshowingsignsofcracking,brittlenessordiscolouration.

• Storegascylindersoutside,inaself-drainingandfireresistantlocker.Keepthemuprightandsecuredfrommoving.

Electrics

• CheckfortheBritishorEuropeansafetymarkwhenbuyingelectricalgoods.

• Useatrainedmarineelectriciantoinstallandserviceelectrics.

• Don’toverloadadaptors.Keeptooneplugpersocket.Usetherightfuseorcircuitbreakertoavoidoverheating.

• Unplugapplianceswhenthey’renotinuseorwhenyouleavetheboat.

• Damagedwirescanoverheatrapidly,solookoutforscorchmarksorburningsmells.

• Takeextracarewhenreinstallingtheboat’sbatteries.Checkstrapsorrestraintsaresecureafterwards.

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Have an emergency plan

Make an emergency plan with everyone on board before you set out.

• Makesurepeopleknowhowtocloseemergencyvalvesandswitchesincaseoffire.

• Keepatorcheasilyavailabletohelpyouescapeatnight.Makesureyouhavesparesandtestthemregularly.

• Don’tgotoseawithoutaVHFradio.Haveacharged-up,handheld,waterproofonereadyforuseatanytime.

• Don’trelyonamobilephone.Therecouldbenosignalanditmaynotbewaterproof.

• Haveenoughlifejacketsforeveryoneonboard,andkeepthemingoodcondition.

• Keepexitsclearandkeystohand.Don’tlockorboltdoorsandhatchesfromtheoutside.

• Trackyourlocationsoyoucantelltheemergencyserviceswhereyouareifneeded.

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What to do if there’s a fire

• Donotenterasmokefilledspace.

• Ifyouarealreadyinasmokefilledspacekeeplowdownwheretheairisclearer.

• Ifyouneedtobreakglasstoescapeuseablankettopreventinjury.

• Starvethefireofair.Don’topenenginehatchesordoorsunlessyouhaveto.

Inland fires

• Ifyouareinlandormooredneartolandmoveeverybodyofftheboatandcall999immediately.

Fires at sea

• Ifyouareoff-shoremoveasfarawayfromthefireasyoucanondeck.Geteverybodyintolifejackets.

• TakeahandheldVHFradioondeckwithyoutocallforhelp.

• NotifytheCoastguardbyradio,makeaMaydaycalland/ordisplayadistresssignal.

Get out, stay out and wait for the fire service.

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Fire blankets and extinguishers

Familiarise yourself with how to use any extinguishers on board. Always read instructions before use.

• Onlytackleafirewithanextinguisherifyouareconfidenthowtouseit.Ifindoubt,evacuatetheboat.

• Keepfireblanketsandextinguisherswithineasyreach,closetoexitsandriskpoints,suchasthegalleyandenginearea.

• Checkextinguishersonaregularbasisforseriousdents,leaksandlossofpressure.

• Checkthepinandfiringmechanismforanysignsofproblemsorweaknesses.

• Checkthedatesonextinguishersandfireblanketsandserviceorreplacethemasrecommendedbytheinstructions.

• Onlychooseextinguishersthatcarryrecognisedapprovalmarkssuchasthese:

Always read instructions.

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Further information • Formoreinformationon

boatfiresafetyandroutinesafetychecksvisitwww.boatsafetyscheme.com

• Formoreinformationoncarbonmonoxidedetectorsvisitwww.hse.gov.uk

• ForinformationonsearegulationsandemergenciesatseavisittheMaritimeandCoastguardAgencyatwww.mcga.gov.uk

• Foradvice,emergencyequipmentchecksandemergencyrescueinformationcontactRoyalNationalLifeboatInstituteatwww.rnli.org.uk

• Forinformationaboutpastincidentswithlessonslearnt,andforreportingaccidentsseeMarineAccidentInvestigationBranchatwww.maib.gov.uk

Boating advice

• Forboatbuildersandservice

engineerscontacttheBritishMarineFederationwww.britishmarine.co.uk

• Foradviceonnavigation,boathandlingandemergencytrainingcontacttheRoyalYachtingAssociationwww.rya.org.uk

General fire safety

• ContactyourlocalFireandRescueServiceforfreeadvice.Youwillfindtheirnumberinthelocalphonebook.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.southwales-fire.gov.ukMid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.mawwfire.gov.ukNorth Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.nwales-fireservice.org.uk

Formoresafetyleafletspleasevisit:

www.freesmokealarm.co.uk

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