5 minutes | Thursday, 29 November 2018
Of all the electrical fires that occur in Great Britain, almost a quarter (22%) happen in the homes of older people who reside alone, despite the fact that they only make up around 7% of the national population.
New research from consumer protection charity, Electrical Safety First, discovered that in 2017, 4,523 electrical fires occurred in the homes of those over a pensionable age who lived by themselves.
With nearly half of respondents surveyed who live alone admitting they do not know the warning signs something could be seriously wrong with their electrics, the charity is urging Brits to check in on their older relatives, friends and neighbours to perform some basic spot checks that could save a life.
To discuss the findings and to offer advice we were joined by Emma Drackford from Electrical Safety First.