Christmas festivities have begun, and you may have already or be thinking about decorating your home.
However, when Christmas decorations are not displayed correctly, they can become a fire or safety hazard.
Christmas decoration safety
- Never overload electrical sockets and always switch off your Christmas lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
- Never place candles near your Christmas tree, garlands or decorations.
- Keep candles out of reach from children and pets and never leave candles unattended.
- Do not light cigarettes or leave ashtrays near decorations.
- Do not attach decorations to lights or heaters, as they can get hot and start a fire.
- If you have an open fire, take care when decorating the fireplace and have nothing hanging over the edge.
- Check your Christmas lights have the British Safety Standard sign either on the battery pack or on the plug.
Christmas cooking safety
Christmas usually means extra time cooking in the kitchen when hosting gatherings with friends or family, therefore it’s especially important to take further precautions this season, to keep you and your home safe.
- Many Christmas dishes require a longer period in the oven, therefore avoid leaving the oven on unattended and don’t leave your oven on when you leave the house.
- Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol.
Christmas home safety
- When wrapping gifts, make sure you are not near any open flames or lit cigarettes.
- Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace, as it burns very quickly and could cause a chimney fire.
- Make sure guests visiting your home know the emergency exits.
- Test your smoke alarms.
- Always blow out candles.
- Check in on older and vulnerable relatives and neighbours, to ensure their homes are safe.
And remember, never try to tackle a fire yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999.