Collection: Home Safety & Fire

Preparedness starts with the emergencies that are actually most likely: a chip-pan flare-up, a faulty boiler, a blocked escape route. This collection covers the home safety basics every UK household should have — fire blankets, extinguishers, carbon monoxide alarms and escape tools — the unglamorous kit that does the most good.

Fire blankets and extinguishers

A fire blanket mounted in the kitchen handles pan fires — the most common house fire there is — without the mess of an extinguisher. A small multi-purpose extinguisher by the main escape route covers everything else. Mount both where you can reach them without leaning over the thing that's on fire.

Carbon monoxide alarms

CO is invisible, odourless and entirely detectable. Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fuel-burning appliance — boiler, log burner, gas hob — and anywhere you'd run a camping stove or heater in a power cut. If you own outdoor cooking gear, a CO alarm at home is non-negotiable.

Home safety FAQs

Where should a fire blanket be mounted?

In the kitchen, on the wall by the exit — not above the hob, where a fire would stop you reaching it.

How long do CO alarms last?

Most sealed-battery CO alarms last 7–10 years, then the whole unit is replaced. Test the button monthly; the end-of-life chirp means replace, not re-battery.

What extinguisher type is right for a home?

A small ABC dry powder or water mist extinguisher covers typical home risks. Never water on oil or electrical fires — that's what the blanket and powder are for.

Are landlords required to fit CO alarms?

In England, rented homes must have a CO alarm in any room with a fixed fuel-burning appliance (excluding gas cookers). Owner-occupiers aren't required to — but should.