The Prepared Home

Celebrate and stay safe

Celebrations normally mean happy times and good memories. Well they do as long as you are careful. One of the problems with celebrations is that often alcohol is consumed and this makes the risk of accident greater.

Candles

These are used in many kinds of celebrations. They create an interesting atmosphere and add to the beauty of the surroundings. They are also used for practical reasons during power cuts.

Candles are a dangerous way to light a house. Nothing spreads fire like an unguarded flame no matter how small. Decorative candles are just for decoration and can cause problems when they are used. For example, if a candle is allowed to burn down so that the flame gets close to the decorations the decorations themselves can be set alight.

It is essential that the candle is firmly held in place, preferably in a proper candle holder. A candle that falls over and is not on a safe surface can quite easily set fire to the things around it. This is one reason why you should not leave candles unattended. Remember though to leave a space for the hot wax to collect so it might be necessary to put that candle holder on a plate to stop the wax going where it should not. Be careful what you use for a candleholder as some glass containers can shatter if they overheat.

Candles should be kept well away from curtains furniture or any draping fabric. They also need to be kept out of draughts.

A candle should never be placed directly on a flammable surface like a carpet or tablecloth. Some magazines have even shown them placed directly on plastic baths. This is definitely not safe.

Candles need to be kept away from pets and children. They can easily set hair or clothes alight if great care is not used. They should be extinguished before going to bed.

Matches and lighters need to be kept well out of the way of children.

Christmas trees

A real Christmas tree can be a fire hazard. To reduce the risk it is important to choose as fresh a tree as possible. Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Christmas trees should not be put near to a heat source, including a fireplace or a heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, this will mean it will 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. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace of a wood burning stove. When the try becomes dry it is time to get rid of it. The best way to dispose of a tree is to take it to a recycling centre or have it taken away by a community pick up service.

If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure that it is flame retardant.

Never put lit candles on any kind of tree.

Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame such as a candle, lighter or matches.

Christmas tree lights

• When buying lights look for the safety symbols and codes on them.
• Buy from a reputable store. Cheap stores may sell imported lights that have safety problems.
• Don't buy second hand lights unless they are professionally checked first.
• Never insert or remove bulbs while the lights are switched on.
• Inspect cables and bulbs for damage every time they are used. Look for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
• Do not use lights which are damaged and make sure they are disposed of carefully.
• Read and follow the manufacturers instructions.
• Use a Residual Current Device to add an extra level of protection.
• Be careful not to overload electrical circuits. If necessary use an extension block and plug lights into that.
• Make sure that if more than one set of lights is used to check the wires to make sure they have stayed cold. Wires that are warm to the touch are dangerous.
• Do not use the lights outside, unless they are specially made for the purpose.
• Don't run the cable under the carpets or anywhere else where it can be damaged.
• Keep lights clear of decorations and other flammable materials.
• Avoid cables becoming a tripping hazard.
• Use a stable support for hanging the lights. Don't risk falling and hurting yourself.
• Don't leave the lights on when the room is empty. Remember to switch the lights off when you go to bed and when you leave the house.
• Don't allow children to play with the lights.
• Take care when dismantling and packing the lights so they are not damaged.
• Keep them stored safely away out of the reach of children.
• Do not store them in a damp or excessively hot place.

Decorations

Use only non-flammable decorations or at least flame retardant ones but even these should be placed away from heat sources.

Be careful where you discard wrapping paper because if you leave it too close to a fire or heater it will create a fire hazard.

General advice

Don't forget to check that your smoke alarms are in working order just in case something goes does go wrong.

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