Midland HeartLeading housing and care provider Midland Heart are working in partnership with West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) to deliver education and awareness sessions for vulnerable people living in various housing schemes across the West Midlands.

Frontline firefighters and expert WMFS prevention staff will be making ‘Safe and Well’ visits to Midland Heart customers. The free visits will assess the physical risks of fire in a home, and also look at health, social and lifestyle factors to help people improve their health and wellbeing, with the ultimate goal of reducing their risk from fire.

Station Commander Sam Burton said: “We’re really pleased to be linking up with Midland Heart in this way. It’s an exciting new project that will protect vulnerable people and help them to live healthily and safely.

“Our Vulnerable Person Officers support people with complex needs and create vital links with other support services. Each session is adapted to suit the needs of the individual.”

Station Commander Burton added: “Most people probably associate us more with our emergency response work. However, this initiative encompasses the other two core areas of our work, prevention and protection, by focusing on more vulnerable clients who are at greater risk from fire and on the properties in which they live.

“As well as the ‘Safe and Well’ sessions with clients, our Fire Safety Inspecting Officers will be working with Midland Heart staff to look at all aspects of safety within their buildings, from the fire risk assessment to the fire safety training records. This is in addition to their annual fire safety audit.”

Paul Johnson, Health and Safety Advisor at Midland Heart said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with West Midland Fire Service. The ‘Safe and Well’ checks offer a holistic approach to assessing and supporting our customers’ health, wellbeing and safety. Our customers are our first priority, this partnership will make a positive difference to many lives.”

‘Safe and Well’ checks already play a significant role in reducing preventable fire deaths and injuries at home, with around 27,000 already delivered every year.

If you are worried about someone else’s fire safety at home, please give WMFS a free call on 0800 389 5525 and they will do their very best to help you.