West Midlands Fire Service – Safe and Well visits

Safe and Well visits are an important part of the West Midlands Fire Service’s prevention activity. They enable the service to advise and educate on safety at home, with a particular focus on vulnerable residents.

Safe and Well visits involve much more than just fitting smoke detectors. Visits are carried out by operational firefighters, based at 38 community fire stations, and usually take around an hour.

There are strong links between health, well-being and lifestyle choices and the risk of fire. This is why, with the residents’ permission, the service will cover a range of topics with a link to fire risk, including:

• smoking, alcohol, medication and drugs
• mental health, dementia
• mobility including slips, trips and falls
• hoarding
• loneliness and social isolation
• healthy eating and lifestyles
• home security
• road safety

A handbook complements the visits, providing vital fire safety information, general safety and health or well-being advice. A copy is left with the household, along with information on any actions or referrals/signposting made by the visiting crew.

The service prioritise and target Safe and Well visits, with a focus on the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Staff in the Home Safety Centre carefully assess each referral and identify people who most need the service.

If you’re not eligible for a visit, the service will send you a copy of the Safe and Well handbook, which is packed with great advice on safety in the home.

To find out if you or someone you work with qualifies for a Safe and Well visit complete the form on the website https://www.wmfs.net/our-services/safe-and-well/?partner_id=4484#howtobook or call the team for free on 0800 389 5525.