Avoiding a Festive Fire
The holiday season is a special time for celebration whether on your own or with friends and family. Due to the excitement of the season and additional hazards in the home, fires are more likely to occur at this time of year. These can be avoided, though, by carefully considering and planning for potential risks in advance. The following advice will help you to avoid such a fire.
ENSURE SAFETY STANDARDS ARE MET
If you have traditional incandescent filament lighting, it’s best to make sure that they meet the most recent and highest safety standards and rigorous testing. Make sure that your lights carry the British Safety Kitemark or CD Safety Standard mark. Poor safety standards mean they carry a greater risk of fire and could have been made with cheap electrical components. If using traditional incandescent filament lighting, check that the fuses are the right type. (See the box that the lights came in to find out the maximum size of fuse you use.) If bulbs blow, replace them; and don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, like paper or card decorations.
CONSIDER LED LIGHTING
With the high fire risk of filament bulbs, LEDs have become the popular choice for Christmas lighting. They don’t get as hot, and they have less chance of catching fire. They also work at a lower voltage than traditional bulbs. As LEDs are diodes instead of incandescent bulbs, they are less likely to break, which means they are more likely to withstand the cold and damp British weather. LED lighting is the energy efficient choice. It has an average lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, which far surpasses traditional bulbs that have lifespans of approximately 9,000 hours. Spending that bit extra on LED lights is worth the extra safety for your family and home.
CAREFULLY PLACE DECORATIONS
Keep decorations, cards, and wrapping paper away from fires, heaters, light fittings, and other heat sources. Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heater. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Always keep the tree stand filled with water. Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. Never place candles on or near your Christmas tree or materials that can catch fire easily. Keep candles, lighters, and matches out of children’s reach. Never leave burning candles unattended and make sure you put them out before going to bed. Remember to always switch off the lights and unplug them when going out of the house or going to bed. Don’t overload sockets!
BE PREPARED
Make sure you have properly placed smoke alarms and test them on a regular basis. Make sure you, your family, and visitors know the quickest way out of the house in the event of a fire emergency. Plan your escape route and consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.
Take time to check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas as they are at greater risk from fire.
AVOID SMOKING INDOORS
Make sure cigarettes and cigars are always extinguished properly.
ASK THE EXPERTS
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) offers free home safety visits to everyone, as well as an online home fire safety checker. They can identify potential fire risks and provide advice on what to do to reduce or prevent them. Their website also offers fire safety advice for homes and businesses, as well as for when you’re outdoors. They also offer festive safety advice.
SFRS asks for everyone’s help in identifying individuals over the age of 50 who smoke and either live alone, have mobility issues or use medical oxygen. Ask such people to contact SFRS. Family members or carers are urged to refer these people to SFRS so they can conduct a fire safety visit where possible. As SFRS says, “Make the Call, it could save a life.”
FINALLY, IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE: GET OUT, STAY OUT, AND CALL 999.
