| The law on fire alarms is changing. By February 2022, all homes in Scotland will be required to have interlinked fire alarms, meaning if one alarm goes off, they all go off. This will alert you to danger more quickly, no matter where you are in your home.
The new legislation requires all homes to have:
If you live in a one bedroom flat, you will need two smoke alarms and one heat alarm. If you have a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, you will also need a carbon monoxide detector.
The homeowner is responsible for making sure their home meets the the new fire alarms standard, and for finding a contractor to carry out the work. When purchasing an alarm, choose a reputable brand and make sure the packaging clearly displays compliance with BS EN14604:2005 for smoke alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms should have the British Kitemark (EN 50291-1). Heat alarms should comply with BS 5446-2:2003. To find out more about the new legislation and the support available, visit: mygov.scot/firealarms
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| Message Sent By Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland) |
Category Archives: Neighbourhood Watch
A 3 bedroom, 2 storey house will need 3 smoke alarms and one heat alarm. If you have a carbon fuelled appliance like a boiler, you will also need a carbon monoxide detector.
Free Online Safety Classes – Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch Scotland would like to share that, Lead Scotland are hosting FREE online safety classes for members of the public during February 2021. The classes will be especially useful for disabled people, carers or those who might find it harder to use the internet safely, but they are open and suitable for everyone. All classes are free and open to the public.
We are offering 1 hour zoom classes in:
- How to Create Strong Passwords
- How to Remember Your Password
- Online Scams: How to Spot Them and What To Do
- Learn More About Complex Online Scams
We’re also giving webinars for practitioners and organisations about how to give online safety information in an accessible manner:
- Cyber Attacks: What To Do and Where To Get Help
- How To Promote Digital Safety in an Accessible Manner
- How to Promote Digital safety to Those With Low IT Confidence
To sign up please follow this link to see the programme of training:
https://www.lead.org.uk/learn-
Saturday 11/04/2020: Neighbourhood Watch Garvald (NHW)
An update from Phillip White, Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator:
We have a NHW scheme which covers our village and surrounding area. At this present time it will allow the Garvald Resilience Team to communicate any relevant information that might concern us all via this platform.
If you are not a member please consider joining our scheme. All that is required is your Email address which is never given out or shown to the 52 other members in the village.
Normally the information that is sent out is about safety, security and the latest online scams, which is very useful.
Stay safe
If you wish to join the NHW scheme, please use the contact form, below:
Keep You and Your Community Safe
You will all be aware of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Neighbourhood Watch Scotland exists to look out for communities and at a time like this we encourage you to consider ways to keep yourself, your loved ones and those in your community safe, particularly the isolated and vulnerable. We are following the advice from the government and encourage you to do the same: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
Ways you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your community:
- Meet with household members, other relatives, friends and neighbours to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.
- If your neighbourhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbours, information, and resources. Alternatively, share phone numbers and email addresses particularly with those who are isolated or vulnerable.
Consider establishing a ‘buddy’ system within your community to ensure everyone stays connected to COVID-19 related news, services and can receive support safely, such as essentials deliveries. - Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications.
- Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy.
- Learn how to self-isolate. Guidance can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/
- Create a list of local organisations that you and your neighbours can contact in the event that one of you need access to information, healthcare services, support, or resources. Consider including organisations that provide mental health or counselling services, food, and other supplies.
- Create an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbours, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other local authority, community resources.
- Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility, and your employer’s emergency operations plan.
- Practice everyday preventive actions including regular hand washing: The NHS provides guidance on how to wash hands: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/. The World Health Organisation provides guidance on basic protective measures: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance on handwashing for families https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-family.html
- NHS Scotland provide current updated INFORMATION and ADVICE on the following link: https://www.scot.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/ and the Scottish Government on the link : https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
Garvald break-ins on Sunday night
A message from Phillip White:
Two garages were broken into sometime overnight between 10pm and 7.30am. The wind last night would have covered any unusual noises so do check your garages and sheds to make sure they are secure. Please be vigilant.
Break-ins have also been reported in Luggate, Whittingehame and Morham where vehicles were either broken into or stolen last night.
Neighbourhood Watch Alert – local burglaries
Please be vigilant – A motor car and some power tools were stolen from the Nunraw area last night and the Monastery was also broken into. If anyone saw anything suspicious, please let the Police know as soon as possible.
Housebreaking alert from Police Scotland East Lothian
Message from Police Scotland East Lothian
Over the course of the last few weeks there has been an increase in incidences of housebreakings in East Lothian. Police Scotland is committed to tackling thefts from the home. We are determined to reduce this type of crime by targeting and arresting offenders; to this end we need the help of the community.
Homes may be targeted due to regular work patterns or identifiable periods where the home is unoccupied, such as holidays, or where the premises have been left insecure. To help us fight this type of crime and protect your property and those of your neighbours you can:
- Report anything unusual, occupants of unfamiliar vehicles or people acting suspiciously
- Note any descriptions of suspicious persons or vehicles, including vehicle registration numbers
- Check the identity of any callers at your home
Upgrading the physical security of your home is the best way to reduce your chances of being broken into. For more information see the Police Scotland alert, which was issued through the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Protect your computers against malware threat
Information sent from the Garvald Neighbourhood Watch Scheme:
The National Crime Agency are urging computer users to take action against recent malware threats (software sent via email attachments that can infect your Windows computer and used for criminal activities or lock you out of your computer). The NCA has taken temporary control of the communications used to connect with infected computers, but expects only a very limited window of opportunity to ensure you are protected. To protect yourself, check that both your Windows Operating System and your virus protection software are up-to-date and make sure your computer has done a security scan recently, to check for viruses and malware. Read the full story on the National Crime Agency Website.
This information was forwarded from the Garvald Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. If you would like more information about the scheme, please contact Phillip White using the form on the Neighbourhood Watch page.