UIA Insurance News

Celebrities extol virtues of smoke alarms – and could reduce house insurance claims

Home insurance claims could be reduced if more people properly maintain their smoke alarms - an issue at the centre of a new celebrity awareness campaign.

Sir Terry Wogan, Ainsley Harriet and Amir Khan are among those pledging to test their alarms once a week as part of the government's Push-it Pledge campaign.

Figures show that while 85 per cent of homes have smoke alarms installed, less than a third of people check the appliances on a weekly basis.

Sir Ken Knight, the government's chief fire and rescue adviser, recommends having a smoke alarm on each floor and in any bedroom with large electrical appliances. Kitchens and bathrooms should not have smoke alarms as they will go off accidentally.

Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan said: "It's scary how quickly a house fire can spread and in so many cases, it's the smoke alarm that can make the difference between someone being able to escape in time, or not."

It is also vital to maintain smoke alarms in case you need to make an insurance claim. Most policies require that alarms be maintained and used effectively.

By Victor Onuohae

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