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12 December 2011 12:16
Home safety
Don't let your Christmas go up in smoke
Christmas celebrations could be left in ruin if simple fire safety is forgotten among all the seasonal excitement, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue warns.
Favourite festive traditions such as cooking Christmas dinner, decorating the home and enjoying a tipple all have the potential for disaster, if straightforward precautions aren’t taken.
Last December, 41 Lincolnshire house fires were started by cooking and electrical appliances, resulting in 22 injuries.
This Christmas, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is giving the gift of sage advice, which includes keeping an eye on cooking and candles, switching off fairy lights at bedtime and avoiding overloading your plug sockets.
Debbie Robinson, deputy community fire safety manager, said: “The festivities can bring a cocktail of fire risks into the home but the excitement of Christmas can push safety out of our minds.
“The distractions can often result in cooking and candles being left unattended, and the added influence of alcohol means that it is even more important to stay alert.
“By being aware of these risks and making a few simple checks you can ensure that you and your loved ones celebrate in safety.”
To discuss concerns or for a free home fire safety check, call 01522 582222 and ask for the Community Safety Department or email http://mce_host/admin/articles/HFSC@lincoln.fire-uk.org For more fire safety advice, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/LFR
Here is Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s advice for having a safe Christmas:
· Have a working smoke alarm fitted on all levels of your home. This can give you the vital time needed to escape a fire. Test your alarms regularly and never remove the batteries to use in a Christmas present.
· Never leave cooking unattended. The majority of fires start in the kitchen. Avoid cooking while drinking alcohol and always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished with them.
· Don’t leave candles unattended. Keep them out of the reach of children, and away from decorations, cards, wrapping paper, fires, lights and heaters.
· Switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house. Check that they measure up to British Standard BS EN 60598.
· Don’t overload sockets. Use only one plug for each socket and always turn them off when not in use, except those that are designed to be left on like freezers.
· Put your cigarette out, right out. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and take care when drunk or tired. It’s very easy to start a fire by falling asleep while your cigarette is still burning.
· Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment. This safety device can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault. They can be found in any DIY store.
· Check on elderly relatives and neighbours, who are at greater risk from fire.
· Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire – get out, stay out and call 999.
· Take care heating your home. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue responds to more incidents caused by household heating at this time of year. Make sure that you don’t put anything too close to open fires or portable heaters; carefully check electrical cables, plugs, gas pipes and connections; and if you use an open fire or wood burning stove, make sure you have suitable fuel and the chimney swept. And remember that any heaters that haven’t been used for some time may have deteriorated and become unsafe – check them carefully.
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