Legendary Newry goalkeeper teams up with NIFRS | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Legendary Newry goalkeeper teams up with NIFRS

Former Northern Ireland Goalkeeper Pat Jennings has teamed up with Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to highlight the added risk from fire to people aged 50 and over. 

It has been revealed that 87% of people who lost their lives in accidental house fires in the last 4 years were aged 50 and over.

Article continues below

This striking statistic, released as part of North-South Fire Safety Week 2019, has prompted NIFRS to reduce their ‘People at Risk’ from fire age to those aged 50 and over. Previously it covered anyone aged 60 and over.

 

 

74-year-old Pat Jennings has come on board as a new Community Safety Ambassador to help raise awareness among that demographic about the importance of fire safety in the home. 

Organised in partnership with the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in the Republic of Ireland, North-South Fire Safety Week aims to promote fire safety, with the ultimate goal of zero accidental fire deaths and will be officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane at a special ceremony in Belfast Central Fire Station on Monday 7 October.

Alan Walmsley, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Director Service Delivery, explained,  “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Pat Jennings as our new Community Safety Ambassador to help save lives from fire. 

 

 

“27 of the 31 people (87%) who lost their lives in accidental fires in the last 4 years were aged 50 and over, prompting us to lower our ‘People at Risk’ age group. 

“Many of this age group will remember the legendary Pat Jennings for his heroics in goals for Northern Ireland. He will be a great ambassador to allow us to reach even more people at risk to help protect our community this Fire Safety Week and beyond. 

“Our focus is on working together through partnerships, and most importantly our biggest partnership is with the community. We will continue to work tirelessly to reach the people most at risk; however we need the community’s help to do this,” he added.

Pat Jennings said he was pleased to be working with NIFRS to help kick off Fire Safety Week and raise awareness of fire safety in the home. “Like over 30% of our wee country, I fall into that age demographic of 50 and over, who are most at risk from fire.  

 

 

“I think it’s really important that we are all aware of simple fire safety steps we can take to help keep our home safe from fire, and what help is available for people like me.

“NIFRS offers a free home fire safety check to those most at risk from fire – people aged 50 and over, anyone who has a disability or impaired mobility, or anyone with a health condition that would impact on their ability to respond to an emergency.”

He added, “Firefighters will install or check that smoke alarms are working, help to identify any obvious dangers and advise on an escape plan. I would encourage people my age to use this potentially lifesaving service.”  

 

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=67683

Posted by on Oct 15 2019. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply







Find us on Facebook

Log in | Designed by Gabfire themes