Get Connected Summer 2016

SAFETY
Be gas safe
Poorly maintained gas appliances are
a serious safety threat in the home, and
carbon monoxide poisoning, although
relatively rare, can be fatal.
YOUR GAS SERVICE
APPOINTMENT
By law we must carry out a gas safety
inspection each year to ensure your home
is safe. Our gas contractor Sure will write
to you to tell you when your annual service
is due. It’s important you give access,
so we can check your home is gas safe.
Don’t forget this is a free service.
CARBON
MONOXIDE
You can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide
and it can kill without warning in a matter of
hours. Symptoms can often be mistaken for
flu, and other signs that there may be a carbon
monoxide leak in the home are brown staining
around gas appliances and yellow-tinged pilot
lights that frequently go out. This is why it is
important for us to gain access and inspect all
gas appliances. If you have a gas fire in your
home, we will fit a carbon monoxide alarm which
we will test every year, however please ensure
you test it regularly too.
IF YOU
SMELL GAS
If you can smell gas please leave the property
as soon as possible and call the National Grid
emergency line on 0800 111 999.
Be water safe
Legionnaires’ disease is an illness
caused by breathing in small droplets
of water contaminated by bacteria.
It can affect anybody and is potentially
fatal, but it’s very rare in the UK.
Hot and cold water systems in homes are
a potential source for bacteria growth. Bacteria
can survive low temperatures, thrives at
temperatures between 20–45°C, but is killed
in high temperatures of 60°C and above.
There are some simple things you can do
to make sure the water in your home is safe.
Set hot water cylinders at 60°C or
above (take care not to burn yourself).
Clean limescale from taps and
shower heads every three months.
Don’t leave your shower head
sitting in water.
If you’ve been away for over a week,
run all your taps (and shower) for a
few minutes before using the water.
Have you experienced
or seen a hate crime?
Stop Hate UK is working to challenge all
forms of hate crime and discrimination.
They provide confidential reporting and
support for victims and witnesses.
You can call their free 24 hour helpline
on 0800 138 1625 or visit their website
www.stophateuk.org. You can also visit
Connect’s Leeds office which is an official
Hate Incident Reporting Centre.
A hate crime is an incident committed
against someone because of their disability,
gender-identity, race, religion or belief, or
sexual orientation and should be reported.
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