Furore Over ‘Innovative’ Stick That Cost £17,500

Back in March, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service sent out a press release revealing an “innovative” new way to help elderly and immobile people test their smoke alarms.

As far as we could tell at the time, the “functional affordable fire safety tool” was a plastic stick with a finger on the end. We struggled to see why the new tool was a worthwhile investment, let alone a worthwhile press release to send out. But three months later, a shipment of 10,000 of the devices is causing a stir.

Click here to view Figure 1.

A Freedom of Information request from the South Wales Evening Post discovered that Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service had spent GB pound 17,500 on 10,000 of the sticks, manufactured by Devon-based The Purple Company. The sticks are designed to raise awareness about the importance of testing your smoke alarm regularly, and to assist elderly people in testing their alarms without having to use a stepladder.

As one fire authority member pointed out: “It is [an] absolutely ridiculous waste of money, particularly when budgets are so tight for public services. All people have to do is use a broom handle or something similar.”

We agree, and we made this exact point on Twitter back in March. Community safety manager for DSFRS, Phil Martin, in turn agreed with us, but made the point that “around 85% of smoke alarms are not regularly tested” despite the ready availability of broom handles.

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@ifsecglobal I agree, but despite the simplicity and availability of a 'stick' around 85% of smoke alarms are not regularly tested.

— Phil Martin (@DS_FireSafe) March 13, 2013

Now the Welsh freedom of information request is starting to attract a lot of attention from the media. The BBC picked up the story today, asking the fire service if the GB pound 17,500 they payed for the sticks was a worthwhile investment. Rob Quin, corporate head of risk at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, defended the issue, saying that they are part of a wider campaign to raise the profile of alarm testing, alongside the slogan “Point the finger at fire safety — push the button not your luck.”

He told BBC Radio Wales:

The fact that these testing sticks are quirky is not an accident. It’s a deliberate ploy to get things talked about and that’s certainly been the result in this case.

He continued to explain that the last thing the fire service wanted to do was to encourage people to climb step ladders if they’re not capable of doing so, and that these sticks would help them test smoke alarms easily. He added:

We need to encourage people to test alarms and remind them of the need to, and I’m not sure that somebody standing at the top of the stairs — particularly an elderly person — with an upside down sweeping brush is the most effective way of doing that.

What next?
There’s no indication as to what someone is supposed to then do should they find their smoke alarm isn’t working. If they’re unable to climb a ladder to test the alarm, why would they be able to climb one to change the battery?

Regardless, there are two issues at the heart of this story. One is of fire services being accused of wasting public money, particularly at a time when firefighters are facing layoffs. But the other issue is raising public awareness about the importance of testing smoke alarms. While I think most would agree that a stick with a plastic white finger on it is not an “innovative” fire safety tool, the device’s development and purchase has certainly generated publicity for both Devon and Mid and West Wales FRS.

What’s your take? Waste of money, or functional, affordable fire safety tool?