With the festive season in full swing, it is easy to get distracted and forget about fire safety. Here are a few simple tips to follow to ensure you enjoy happy and safe celebrations.
- Think carefully about where you place decorations
When placing your cards and decorations, be mindful of where you put them. Avoid placing them directly next to your heating, cooking appliances and lighting, as well as not blocking the routes in and out of your home.
- Keep an eye on candles
For many, candles are a Christmas essential. However, as you would expect from any naked flame, they’re also a fire hazard. Top tip! Why not try battery-operated candles to avoid unexpected accidents.
- Switch off the lights
Avoid leaving lights switched on when you’re not at home over the Christmas period, especially if you have older fairy lights that might not meet today’s standards. Unlike modern LED bulbs, older lights are very prone to overheating and potentially breaking. If you were to put them on a real Christmas tree, they could cause a fire!
- Avoid distractions when cooking
With everyone wanting your attention to open presents and play games, cooking Christmas dinner for the whole family can be incredibly stressful. Ensure you give yourself enough time to prepare and cook Christmas dinner to ensure you avoid hot fats, boiling water and burnt food.
- Have a drink… after you’ve finished cooking!
Try to avoid alcohol until after cooking the dinner. That’s the time to sit down, relax and enjoy your meal with a drink of choice – without any risks!
- Buy a fire blanket
It’s important you have a fire blanket in the kitchen, almost an essential. Should a small pan fire start, turn the heat off and carefully place the fire blanket over the flames.
- Check your smoke alarms
With lots of people and potential hazards in your home around Christmas, now is a good time to check your smoke alarms are in a proper working order. If they aren’t and changing the battery doesn’t work, make sure you replace it urgently or call out an electrician for assistance.
- Make sure electricals are CE marked
When buying electricals, avoid the temptation to buy cheaper products and make sure they are CE marked. This means that the product has undergone stringent checks, so you know they are safe.
- Have a contingency plan
It important to consider what you’d do in an emergency. Have a plan A and B for how you would get out of your house in the event of a fire, ensuring the whole family is aware of this also.
- Make sure your home & all your belongings are protected
With the increased risk of fire, theft, and property damage over the winter months, it’s important to check that you have sufficient home insurance in place, and that you understand what cover is provided under your policy.
The Firechief range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers for your home and leisure time. For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader’s risk.