FIREFIGHTERS will deliver a new Christmas tree to the lucky winner of our latest competition, organised in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. The competition coincides with the fire service launching its support of the new national F
FIREFIGHTERS will deliver a new Christmas tree to the lucky winner of our latest competition, organised in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The competition coincides with the fire service launching its support of the new national Fire Kills campaign, urging people to not drown in toxic smoke.
Just two to three breaths of toxic smoke in a house fire are all it takes to make you unconscious, as shown in a new television advert. The affect is similar to drowning.
The ad shows a sleeping couple being overcome by the drowning sensation of toxic smoke when a fire breaks out in their home at night.
The campaign, as a result, is encouraging a long-term behavioural change so that weekly testing of smoke alarms becomes a habit.
A Fire Kills campaign survey shows that 54 per cent of people in the East of England think they would be alerted to a fire by the smell of smoke - and 19 per cent believe a pet or someone else would alert them to a fire.
The only way to buy time to escape is to have a working smoke alarm. If you don't have one, you are 100 per cent more likely to die in a house fire.
Neil Newberry, assistant chief fire officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Toxic smoke from a fire will affect your ability to breathe in a similar way to drowning - after just two to three breaths you're unconscious.
"The only way to buy more precious seconds to escape is by having a working smoking alarm. Take immediate action by getting a smoke alarm, testing it weekly and planning an escape route in the event of a fire."
• To raise awareness of the campaign the Ely Standard is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a 6ft tall ready-lit Christmas tree.
The tree has 100 warm white, pre-arranged LED lights and 450 branch tips - and it will be delivered to your door by firefighters before Christmas.
To enter, answer the four questions in our special quiz by clicking the link below.
Click here to launch the quiz and enter the competition �
Entries close at noon on Friday December 18. Archant competition rules apply.
• For more information about the campaign click here
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