Autumn Fire Safety
As the weather has noticeably changed in the last few weeks, this week’s blog will provide you with some tips on how to keep safe against fires this Autumn.
I am sure we can all agree, the change in temperature has most of us reaching for our big warm coats and turning the heating up considerably when we return home. But how can you ensure you are safe and fire hazard free this Autumn?
At this time of year, most of us will get home from work, turn the heating right up and light those candles so we are nice and cosy for the evening. But did you know, candles are one of the biggest fire hazards in all homes. It is important to ensure all candles are blown out completely and never left unattended. They must be kept away from all furnishings such as cushions and sofas in order to prevent a house fire.
Along with our usual home décor, October through to January see’s us all decorate our homes that little bit more. Whether you love to get you pumpkins and Halloween decorations out in October, or you wait for the Christmas season in December, it is important to know how to keep your house safe and reduce the risk of danger from seasonal decorations.
Faulty fairy lights can be as deadly as a lit cigarette if left unattended. It is absolutely essential to ensure before you put any lights up, you check them to ensure they are in full working order with no splits or breaks. You should also ensure all fairy lights and light up ornaments are turned off when you leave the home or go to bed. Never leave lights on for long periods of time. A handy tip to ensure you are not over working them, is by using a plug socket timer to ensure they automatically turn off after a certain period of time. This will reduce the risk of them heating up and causing irreparable damage.
October also sees us (especially our little ones) dress up in all kinds of wonderful, scary, and eccentric fancy dress costumes. But did you know that 84% of the material in a typical fancy-dress costume is oil based? Making them highly flammable if they were to catch fire. It is important that children are supervised at all times when wearing a fancy-dress costume and they should always be kept away from naked flames. Once the trick or treating and party is over, it is recommended that children remove their costumes and return to their normal clothes to prevent the risk of fire and injury.
Arguably one of the most used appliances in all homes throughout Autumn and Winter is a slow cooker. Many of us find ourselves cooking soups, stews, and winter warmers when the weather turns that little bit colder. It is paramount that before using your slow cooker, you ensure the wires and plug are free from any breakage or exposure. When in use, make sure the appliance isn’t in contact or near anything else such as other wires and/or tea towels to ensure there is no risk of catching fire. When you are not using the appliance, it is important to ensure it is unplugged and stored safely with the wires kept neatly tucked away.
Finally, while our radiators will more than likely be turned on throughout the day during this time of year, it is important not to cover them or leave them unattended when they are on full. Ensure if you are leaving the home, you turn the heating down and remove any hazards such as wet washing to ensure there is no risk of catching fire.
We hope this information is useful and helps to prevent any unimaginable damage to your home this Autumn. If you would like any further information, please get in touch with us about how you can keep yourself safe this season.
