Fit smoke alarms

AS PART of Boat Safety week, narrowboat owners around the country are being urged to fit smoke alarms to their boats.

It is Chris Baynham, pictured, from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue, who is keen to let boaters know the danger of smoke, and the importance of smoke alarms to boat owners.

Chief Fire Officer and Group Director of community safety at Gloucestershire County Council, Chris Griffin, explained:

"Smoke alarms can make a big difference to the outcome of fires on boats, giving early warning to the occupants so that they can get to safety."

He told that it only takes  just two to three breaths of toxic smoke  to cause unconsciousness. Nationally, many people who died in fires on their boats could have survived if the boats had working smoke alarms fitted.