Have a safe and enjoyable Christmas!
As Christmas gets ever closer,
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is warning people to be aware of festive
fire risks.
Fire safety is important at any time of
the year, but with the extra distractions of Christmas it’s especially
important to be vigilant. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable
to accidental fires in the home, so take extra care this season to ensure that
your families and loved ones are protected from the extra Christmas fire risks.
Ø Festive decorations made of tissue paper or
cardboard burn particularly easily, so keep decorations and greeting cards away
from heaters, lights, fireplaces and candles.
Ø Most fires start in the kitchen – so never leave
festive cooking unattended.
Ø Ensure that you check the smoke alarms in your home
are working, check them on a weekly basis and do not be tempted to remove
batteries to power any Christmas presents.
Ø Plan your escape route for the event of fire and
ensure that your family and guests know where the door and window keys are
kept.
Ø Be careful when disposing of boxes and festive
wrapping - left outside, it could prove tempting to an arsonist.
Ø Fairy lights and Christmas tree lights don’t get
used very often, so make sure that they are in good working order before using
them:
Ø Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the
British Standard (BS EN 60598). Always use a residual current device on outdoor
electrical equipment – this is a safety device that can save lives by instantly
switching off the power if there is a fault.
Ø Check that the fuse in the plug is the right size
(see the instructions for the maximum size of fuse you should use).
Ø Replace bulbs that blow.
Ø Don’t leave lights on when you go to bed or leave
the house.
Ø Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can burn
easily, such as paper or fabrics.
Ø Candles and night lights are often used in
celebrations for Christmas. It only takes one candle to put your home at risk –
always take care when using them:
Ø Make sure you don’t put candles in, or by, a
Christmas tree, plants, flowers or other foliage.
Ø Be careful that ribbons, greetings cards and other
decorations aren’t near any candle flames.
Ø Check that the candle is out of draughts and away
from curtains, other fabrics or furniture, all of which could catch fire.
Ø Never leave candles unattended.
Ø Make sure you put out candles before you leave a
room and before you go to bed.
Group Manager Kathy Collis, from the
community safety department, said: “Christmas is the time of year where family
and friends get together to celebrate. We don’t want to dampen spirits, but we
do want to raise awareness of the danger and destruction an overloaded socket
or an unattended candle can cause. By following these simple tips, hopefully we
can all enjoy a peaceful Christmas that is safe from fire.”
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is
working in partnership with other agencies through the Swindon Community Safety
Partnership and Wiltshire Assembly to help make our communities safer over the
Christmas period. .For further home fire safety advice,
visit www.wiltsfire.gov.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment