- 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.
- Most fires start in the kitchen. Many Christmas dishes require a longer period of time 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.
- Do not light cigarettes or leave ashtrays near decorations.
- Don’t 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.
- 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.
- Check in on older and vulnerable relatives and neighbours, to ensure their homes are safe.
- Test your smoke alarms.
- And finally, check your Christmas tree lights have the British Safety Standard sign either on the battery pack or on the plug.
