Fire Safety at Christmas
Christmas for most is a happy time of year with friends and family. Leading up to Christmas there are lots of things to prepare and organise from decorating the tree, buying presents, preparing the food, the list is endless. One task that many overlook but one that should be a priority is fire safety around the house. A few key areas that you must be observant of this festive season are outlined below.
Fireplace and Stove
In the lead up to Christmas you should always clear out your fireplace and chimneys and clean your oven or stove. It is important to get your chimney cleaned a minimum of twice a year. Always place a fire guard in front of an open fire. Be aware of the location of decorations, never place a string of Christmas cards near an open flame and never burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. If you are fitting an open fire or stove you should also ensure that an air vent is fitted in the room.
Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is the focal point in most homes during this festive period but can also be a real fire hazard. To ensure your tree stays the focus for the right reasons use a sturdy base to support the tree, filled with water (check the water levels daily). Avoid using a metal tree holder as it tends to dry out the tree and makes it more flammable. If you aren’t using a real tree, have your artificial tree pre-treated to make it flame resistant. When deciding where to place the tree remember to never place it near open flames such as candles or fireplaces and to also keep it away from other sources of heat like radiators and stoves. Once the holiday season is over make sure to dispose of your tree properly, never burn the tree in your fireplace.
Candles
Christmas and candles always seem to go hand in hand. The location of candles is vital to maximise fire safety, always place candles out of the reach of children and pets. Keep any burning candles away from drafts and air vents and never place a candle of top of the television or next to the curtains. Some people use candles (even artificial ones) as Christmas decorations never use them for this purpose as it is highly dangerous. Maintaining the candle not only keeps it in good working condition but also promotes fire safety. Trim the wax to 6mm before every burning, keep the wax pool free of wax, matches and any other debris that may have fallen in and use the appropriate candle holder. Only burn a candle as long as recommended by the manufacturer and if the candle is smoking or the flame has become too high extinguish immediately. Finally, remember to always extinguish candles before leaving your home or going to bed.
Christmas Lights
Christmas lights make any home look magical but there are a few important checks to make before decorating your house. Only purchase lights that come with the safety standard mark. Check the connection and wiring before plugging them in and if you are in doubt, throw them out. Don’t plug too many lights into the one socket and overload it. Similarly to extinguishing candles, always plug any lights out before leaving the house or going to bed.