Like Christmas,
New Years Eve again presents electrical and fire risk. With only a
few days to prepare for what can be the biggest party of the year,
dangerous risks are often taken in order to get New Years Eve
celebrations under way.
With so many
distractions during this time of year, it is easy to overlook some
basic safety considerations. There are more accidental house fires
during December and January than at any other time during the year.
However, many fires can be prevented by following a few simple
precautions to make sure your party goes without a hitch.
What are the fire risks
Well
actually, the risk of fire actually increases over the New Year.
This is because often Christmas decorations are still in place and
materials such as festive hats, party popper materials as well as the
biggest risk – fire from cooking – can all add to a major fire in
your home when you are not expecting it.
With
so many people focused on Christmas safety, it is easy to not even
think about New Years Eve until the day itself. Staying electrically
and firesafe over the New Year is just as important as
at any other time. The
team here at Fulcher Edwards have made a check list to ensure that
you stay safe throughout the festive holidays and give to
2014 the best ever start.
Check list of staying safe this New Years Eve
To make sure you are listening to the sounds of Big Ben at midnight
and not the sound of a fire engine siren consider our safety tips for
a safe – and fun – New Years Eve celebration.
- Store fireworks in a metal box when not in use. Once lit to not return to the firework and always keep a bucket of water handy. Fireworks have been known to spark fires in surrounding trees and bushes. Always consider these when choosing where to set them off.
- Keep candles away from Christmas trees and other furnishings. Always place on a flat surface such as a shelf, never on electrical equipment and always out of reach of children. Never leave candles burning unattended.
- Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Fires can start easily without an adult realising.
- Don't attach any type of decoration to heaters or lights as this heat will easily ignite them.
- Switch off electrical appliances when not in use and take extra care with fairy lights and outdoor lights. Use the same precautions as when using Christmas lights – use an RCD socket on all outdoor lights and avoid overloading sockets indoors. Never be tempted to attach 2 flexes to one plug in order to power more items. This is very dangerous.
- Never leave cooking unattended – most accidental fires start in the kitchen due to cooking left unattended. It is an easy mistake to make, especially when spending time with guests seems to be more important.
- Ensure cigarettes are not still lit when discarding them and never leave ashtrays in the reach of children.
- Check the battery in your smoke alarm every week and make sure each smoke alarm in your property is free of dust and debris.
- Have a fire escape plan in mind – and make sure your friends and family know what it is. Think about how you would escape from your property if your main exit routes were blocked.
Conclusion
Following these simple safety
precautions will keep your home and family safe from fire. It is not
just over Christmas and New Year that you need to stay safe, it is a
year round consideration. It is never too late to start thinking
about home safety and doing so may one day save your life.
We hope you have a very Merry (and
safe) Christmas and A very Happy New Year from all of us here at
Fulcher Edwards. We look forward to writing to you all again in
2014! :)
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