FLEETWOOD Fire Service and Fleetwood Hospital have come up with a red-hot scheme to protect one of the most vulnerable groups in the area.

Out-patients of the Elderly Mental Ill (EMI) unit at the hospital are to have special fire alarms fitted after staff were alerted to the high risks of home fires.

Senior occupational therapist in the Day Hospital, Bridgette Wright, said home visits had sparked fears of patients setting themselves or their homes ablaze.

She said: "The people who use the unit have mental health problems and because of their illness some may be ambivalent about their own safety and therefore not as careful as they could be."

One patient in particular caused concern as she had a habit of smoking in bed. Her sister who cared for her was worried sick and terrified of leaving her on her own.

She contacted the fire brigade who fitted special vibrating fire alarms as the carer wore a hearing aid and wouldn't hear a standard alarm.

Bridgette has now offered to visit the fire station to give a talk on the signs and symptoms of emotional and mental health problems in older people to give fire officers a greater understanding of their particular needs.

Fire Officer Stephen Docherty says he is delighted to work in conjunction with the staff in the unit and believes it will be a significant partnership.

He added: "Our safety policy is to target people who are most at risk and older people with mental illness are very vulnerable indeed.

"We didn't know how to reach them before, to encourage them to let us fit and check smoke alarms free of any charge, but working with the hospital makes that so much easier. But working with the hospital makes that so much easier and effectively provides greater safety for the entire neighbourhood."

All older people can call their local fire brigade and ask to have fire alarms fitted or checked absolutely free.