2.3 Finding the main points

Smoke alarms are cheap, easy to get hold of and, used properly, they are lifesavers. There’s no excuse for not having one.

Smoke alarms save lives. David and Michelle Clarke and their two young children owe their lives to their smoke alarms. In April 2018, an electrical fault started a fire in their home while the family were asleep. Luckily, the smoke triggered the smoke alarms fitted in both the downstairs and upstairs hallways and the family escaped safely. ‘I can’t believe that some people still don’t have smoke alarms’, adds Dave. ‘What’s £5 when it comes to your family’s lives?’

A smoke alarm is a warning device that detects smoke at the earliest stages of a fire. If there is a fire in your home it sounds a piercing alarm to warn you. Many people killed in house fires are asleep at the time. A smoke alarm will wake you up and give you vital extra time to escape.

Smoke alarms cost from as little as £5. They are available from DIY stores, electrical shops, many supermarkets and other high-street retailers.

Many people believe that if you are living in rented accommodation the landlord has the responsibility for fitting and testing smoke alarms. This is not completely accurate; your safety is your responsibility. Your landlord must fit the smoke alarms but you need to test them monthly to make sure you are protected.

There are several models of smoke alarm to choose from. The officers from the local fire service will always be happy to help you to choose the best one for your home. Whichever kind you choose look out for the British Standard Kitemark so that you know it is manufactured to the highest standards, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when fitting the smoke alarm.

The ECDL is an internationally recognised qualification that allows people to demonstrate their ability to use a computer for all kinds of tasks.

It is the best-known IT certificate in Europe and will soon become the most widely studied computer qualification in the rest of the world.

The ECDL is split into two parts: Level 1 and Level 2. It is designed to cover the key concepts of computing and its practical uses at home, in education and in the workplace.

Registration for the ECDL takes place at any college or school that is a Test Centre. Each student is given a logbook to record his or her progress. As the students pass the tests the results are recorded in their logbook. When all the tests have been completed and passed, the logbook is handed in. Then the full ECDL Certificate is issued to the student.

Most leading companies and other employers understand the importance of the ECDL. They know that any of their workers who has an ECDL Certificate has shown that they have an up-to-date computer qualification. The employers also know that the ECDL is a well-organised course that helps their workers to use computer skills in their jobs.