Spare a thought for safety in the midst of the Christmas festivities; A & E departments are likely to receive more than 80,000 causalities across the UK during the 12 days of Christmas.

Fire Safety
Fire is one of the most serious hazards associated with Christmas. You are 50% more likely to be killed in a house fire over Christmas than any other time of the year. A combination of smoking, alcohol, electrical appliances and candles all contribute to the number of fires at Christmas.

Fire Safety Tips

Christmas Trees    

• Place real trees securely in a sturdy base filled with water. Metal stands cause trees to dry and become flammable.
• Check the water levels daily.
• Dispose of the tree correctly – never burn a real tree in a fireplace.
• Ensure artificial trees are pre-treated to increase flame resistance.
• Keep trees away from heaters, open fires, candles and other sources of heat.
• View the video

Christmas Lights 

• Only buy and use Christmas lights marked with a safety standard i.e. CE marking or Kitemark certification.
• Check all wiring is secure and that no wires are frayed, loose or exposed.
• Always switch of lights when replacing bulbs and fasten any loose bulbs.
• Do not overload sockets (if necessary use a multi-way extension bank, not an adaptor socket).
• Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can easily burn e.g. paper or fabric decorations.
• Unplug all lights when leaving your home or going to bed.
• If using external lights ensure they are suitable and follow manufacturer’s instructions. Consider connecting them through a Residual Current Devise(RCD) sometimes known as a circuit breaker, a RCD protects against electric shock by disconnecting the electricity if the current is uneven

Candles  

• Keep Candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Place candles in a proper container and place on a heat-resistant surface, be careful as some get hot enough to melt plastic.
• Use a proper candle holder so the candles stand secure.
• Trim the wick each time of use; keep it to 6mm or ¼ inch.
• Keep burning candles away from draughts, curtains, other fabrics, furniture hair and clothes.
• Never leave a candle unattended
• Always extinguish candles before leaving the house and before going to bed.

Other Fire Safety tips   

• Check that your smoke alarms are in perfect working order.
• Remind family and guests of your escape plan.
• Do not remove smoke alarm batteries for children’s toys.
• Keep Christmas cards away from candles and other heat sources.
• Extinguish cigarettes properly and do not smoke in bed.
• Use deep fat fryers carefully.
• Do not leave cooking unattended.

Health & Safety

Other Safety Tips

• Never drink and drive.
• Ensure meats are thoroughly defrosted and cooked properly.
• Keep a careful eye on children and pets

Personal Safety 
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust have produced leaflets to help keep you safe over the festive period, please read their Safety Leaflet for the Festive Season

The Health & Safety Team – November 2011

Many of us enjoy bonfire’s and fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes and other special events, but safety must never be compromised.
It is important to think about fire safety and follow the Firework Code, please read and follow the relevant leaflets:

• Follow Ben – Fireworks Advise for Kids
• Fire Work Code – Various Languages
• Fireworks – Be safe not sorry (Safe & successful firework displays)

(Leaflets provided with kind permission by  Department for Business Innovation & Skill BIS)

Every year the fire and rescue services respond to over 50,000 accidental house fires across the UK. Each year fires account for more than 400 fatalities and 14,000 injuries. All can be avoided.

New fire safety rules came into force in England and Wales in 2006. This resulted in a change in emphasis for the Fire Service from fire fighting to fire prevention ensuring that fires do not start in the fire place.

Many County Fire and Rescue Services offer a free home safety visit to people living within their fire station boundaries.

This initiative has been very successful in reducing the number of accidental fires and deaths in the home.

The home fire safety visits are carried out by operational crews, they are completely free and you may be eligible for a free smoke alarm. Visit the Fire and Safety section of the Direct.gov.uk website for more information.

Don't become another statistic - follow these simple steps:

• Fit smoke alarms on each floor of your home. Test them once  a week and change batteries every year
• Make a Fire Action Plan to that everyone in your home knows how to escape if there is a fire.
• Keep exits from your home clear and keys to windows and doors in each reach.
• Remember – accidents while cooking account for over half of fires at home. Never leave children alone in the kitchen.
• Extra care is need when cooking with hot oil. Better still – take the healthy option and not cook with oil at all.
• Don’t leave candles alight in rooms that are empty, especially where children are on their own. This especially applies to “Tea Lights.”
• Stub out your cigarette and never smoke in bed.
• Get into the habit of closing all doors at night to prevent the spread of fire.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets.
• Keep matches and lights well away from children where they cannot see or reach them.
• Extra care is needed when you are tired or have been drinking.
• Don’t leave the TV or other electrical goods on “Stand By” as this could cause a fire. Always switch off and unplug appliances.

For more tips visit direct.gov.uk Fire and Safety section on what to do in an emergency.