Smoking safety

More people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires caused by anything else. Tobacco is manufactured to stay alight, meaning it can remain smouldering and start a fire.

Safety tips if you smoke

• never smoke in bed - it's very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to your bedclothes or furnishings
• don’t smoke if you’re drowsy - especially if you're sitting in a comfortable chair or if you've been drinking or taking prescription drugs; again, it’s easy to fall asleep
• don’t leave a lit cigarette (or cigar or pipe) – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material; and make sure your ashtray is heavy and can’t tip easily
• make totally sure that your butts (and any remains in your pipe bowl) aren’t still smouldering when you’ve finished with them; wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
• keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children – you can also buy child-resistant lighters and containers for matches

More about fire safety in the home

• Fire safety in the home - an introduction
• Kitchen safety
• Candle safety
• Electrical safety