FIREFIGHTERS will begin checking pensioners for irregular heartbeats and offering advice on keeping their homes warm this week.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) expands its Safe and Well scheme in the NHS Vale Royal and Southern Cheshire clinical commissioning group areas on Monday, January 15.

In the past year, firefighters and CFRS advocates have given advice about slips, trips and falls, bowel cancer screening awareness, giving up smoking and reducing alcohol consumption to the over 65s or those considered to be at risk.

But following a successful trial in Halton, crews in mid Cheshire have been trained to carry out basic ECG tests.

Nick Evans, head of prevention for CFRS, said: “Between February 1 and December 3 our firefighters and advocates have carried out more than 35,000 Safe and Well visits, with eight per cent of those visits resulting in a referral to health agencies.

“Without a Safe and Well visit, almost 3,000 people may have suffered adversely through lack of knowing where to turn or through not realising they may have something needing attention.”

Firefighters will be equipped with the MyDiagnostick – a mobile device which carries out ECG tests – to check for irregular heartbeats.

Anyone who tests positive will be given a leaflet to explain they have been screened for atrial fibrillation by a trained firefighter, given basic information about what it means and advised to make an urgent GP appointment.

NHS England has also asked the force to identify people at risk of winter death from affordable warmth issues as part of the Safe and Well initiative.

“The service has agreed teams that we will ask, as part of a visit, some high level screening questions on the householders’ ability to heat their home,” Nick said.

“This will identify whether they might be eligible for any benefits or grants to upgrade their heating system or improve insulation.”

Those who need support in keeping their homes warm will also be referred to the Energy Projects Plus charity.

Peter Owen, chief executive at Energy Projects Plus, added: “Keeping warm in your home is extremely important to your health, but not something enjoyed by everyone.

“The inclusion of affordable warmth screening in the fantastic Safe and Well programme means we can provide practical help to people in need and reduce the level of fuel poverty across Cheshire.”