An Ayrshire charity is offering free safety tests for old electric heaters and blankets in a bid to save lives.
The Community Gift Exchange, who operate on Ayr’s High Street, have received funding from Electrical Safety First (ESF) - the UK wide charity committed to reducing deaths, injury and damage caused by electricity.
While electric heaters and blankets can keep heating costs down, ESF predicts that this increase in their usage could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of UK domestic fires.
Heaters can be dangerous when used unsafely, and heaters or blankets that have been in storage since last year, or have been bought second hand, may have undetected electrical faults.
These can cause fires even if you are using the item correctly.
This is The Community Gift Exchange (CGX) are now running a free electrical safety test drop-in for old or second-hand electric heaters or blankets.
CGX is urging residents to bring their items to CGX Reusables on Ayr High Street, located next to the Kyle Centre entrance, and the charity’s qualified PAT testers will check that they are safe to use; as well as make people aware of how to avoid other dangers in the use of electrical heating appliances.
Ethan Marshall, Appliance Works Supervisor at CGX, said: “Even a new electric heater is a potential fire hazard.
“People leave them too close to furniture which could ignite, or plug them into extension leads which can overload the socket- these are just two things that could cause a fire.
“Testing of appliances and awareness of their safe usage will make fires less likely, which is why we are running this project for the community.”
Any faulty items found will be fixed for free or, if beyond repair, replaced free from a limited stock of new heaters and blankets the charity will provide.
CGX is also offering home testing for those with mobility issues or a disability which makes it difficult for them to attend the drop in with their appliance.
The drop-in is running Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm from now until the end of February 2023. Call 07399552390 or email hello@communitygiftexchange.com for any further information.
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