Signing up for Stoptober in Oldham town centre

Smoking is the top cause of accidental fire deaths nationally and in Greater Manchester.

In Greater Manchester, approximately 50-per-cent of fire deaths are smoking related.

Oldham Council is working with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) to reduce fire incidents, injuries and deaths and providing people who smoke with fire safety advice and interventions to make them safer.

For people who smoke, the best way to prevent a smoking-related fire is to quit – and quitting smoking can improve health straight away.

As part of Stoptober activities, Oldham Stop Smoking Service and GMFRS are hosting an awareness event tomorrow (October 3) between 11am and 2pm in Oldham Town Centre, outside the indoor market.

At 1pm, Councillor Zahid Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care and partners from GMFRS, Positive Steps and Turning Point will sign a plaque to show each organisations’ commitment to reducing substance misuse and fire risk.

The partnership aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people across our communities who are at increased risk of fire in the home, by providing GMFRS Safe and Well visits to mitigate health risks through brief advice.

Councillor Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are working hard to improve the health of our residents.

"Stoptober is a great opportunity for smokers across Oldham to quit together alongside friends, family and thousands of other people in our area.

“Quitting is the single best thing you can do for your health and with the help of Oldham Stop Smoking Service, the campaign’s support and motivation I am sure we will have another successful Stoptober.

“Smoking related deaths can be avoided.

"Our partnership will improve the health and wellbeing of residents who are at increased risk of fire in the home, by providing GMFRS Safe and Well visits, mitigating health risks through brief advice, in relation to home safety, smoke free homes and cars. 

Sarah Hardman, Substance Use Coordinator for GMFRS, added: ‘It’s great to see crews and prevention teams supporting Stoptober and working with our partners to engage the public in conversations about smoking.

"For us as a Fire and rescue Service, it makes sense that reducing smoking prevalence will reduce smoking related fires and so it’s really important that we get behind campaigns such as Stoptober. And of course, the health benefits of quitting smoking are extensive and well evidenced.’

For more information go to www.oldham.gov.uk/stop_smoking 

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