Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) is launching a campaign to help keep students safe.

Between March 2016 and April 2017, firefighters from AF&RS were called to 53 false alarms at student accommodation in Bristol. The campaign is aiming to reduce false alarm calls by raising awareness of fire safety amongst students.

The campaign highlights the importance of students not becoming distracted whilst cooking, and reminds them not to cook at all if they’ve been drinking. It’s hoped that following this advice will reduce the risk of fire as well as putting lives and treasured possessions in danger.

Firefighters from AF&RS will also be practicing their fire evacuation drills and procedures as part of an exercise with staff and students from the University of West of England (UWE), at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 11th October.

They are looking for student bloggers to put on some fire kit and help with the demonstration. Roles will include breathing apparatus crew observers, casualty observers, and an external operations observer.

Group Manager, Steve Quinton, said: “We want to make sure that students in the city are safe and providing this advice will hopefully help to reduce the risk of a fire within student accommodation.”

It’s also important for students to take extra care around water, as even the strongest swimmer can be affected by alcohol if that’s where they end up.

The advice given by AF&RS is to ‘buddy up’ on a night out, and make sure you and your friend(s) get home safely.

Group Manager for Bristol and North Somerset, Matt Peskett, said: “We have attended a number of water rescues in Bristol, and tragically some of these incidents were fatal.

“It’s important that if students are on a night out and are drinking alcohol, they stay with their friends and try to avoid a journey home that takes them past open water.”

AF&RS is currently running a Facebook competition asking students to ‘like’ their Facebook page and tell them which of your friends you would choose to ‘buddy up’ with to help get you home safe.

Students entering the competition can be in with a chance to win two tickets to an InMotion night in Bristol.