WIREDGOV

Extra families in Scotland have become eligible to receive potentially life-saving equipment such as blind cord cleats and safety gates as part of a national scheme which has been rolled out to new areas.   

Scotland’s Home Safety Equipment Scheme, which runs until June, has been expanded to cover Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Angus.   

It was launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) last year with £265,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. This approach supports the Early Years Collaborative, which aims to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up by reducing inequalities for all families across the country and ensuring that all children have the best start in life.   

Under the scheme, RoSPA Scotland has been working with local agencies and organisations to identify up to 800 families in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, West/East Lothian, and the Western Isles, eligible for free home safety equipment.   

All the equipment, ranging from safety gates to fireguards, window restrictors, bath mats, corner cushions, door jammers, cleats and cupboard locks, is fitted by a qualified installer. Most of the equipment, which has been provided by Kid Rapt, is fitted by Care and Repair Scotland.   

Each eligible family also receives a home fire safety visit from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which is working alongside the partners.   

A video has been made to show how one family from Lewis has benefitted from the scheme. To view it, visit http://vimeo.com/73687857.   

Carlene McAvoy, community safety development officer for RoSPA Scotland, said: “We are on the lookout for families who could benefit most from this scheme which has the potential to save lives and reduce injuries, particularly in relation to young children.   

“Those most at risk from a home accident are the under-5s, as their curiosity and sense of adventure can often lead them into danger. This is why safety equipment such as cupboard locks are so important as they help to stop tiny hands from getting hold of household chemicals, for example.   

“We are working locally with health visitors, fire officers and a range of other partners to help identify those families who would benefit most from this free equipment, so please do get in touch.”   

Assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s executive director of prevention and protection, said: “I’m proud to work with RoSPA and other partner agencies on this important safety initiative.”   

For more information, contact Carlene on 0131 449 9379 or email cmcavoy@rospa.com.