Winter fire safety

With the rising cost of energy bills, more and more of us are turning to our fires to heat our homes, but there are some key safety precautions you should keep in mind when using your open fire. These include:

Be careful when using open fires to keep warm. Make sure you always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers

Make sure embers are under control and properly put out before you go to bed.

Keep chimneys and flues clean and well-maintained.

Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in all rooms with fuel-burning appliances. 

Whether oil or electric, portable heaters can be an excellent solution for those spaces that can’t hold a radiator or need extra help to stay toasty. However, they can also pose a threat if not used correctly. 
When using a portable heater, make sure that:  

Electric heaters are unplugged when you go out or go to bed

• Your heater is secured against a wall to prevent it from falling over
• It is positioned away from curtains, furniture, or any other flammable material
• It is never used to dry clothes
• You only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas. These heaters consume oxygen, so you could suffocate if a room is not properly aired. 

Electric blankets have regained popularity in recent years, and with many of us struggling with energy bills, it’s easy to understand why. However, these seemingly innocent blankets can cause a major fire hazard if misused.

To avoid a fire risk, you should always:

• Unplug your blanket before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use
• Store your electric blanket flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damage to the internal wiring
• Test your electric blanket every 3 years to avoid issues. Age UK or your local fire and rescue service may be able to do this for you free of charge
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions

Watching fireworks is a popular and fun pastime, especially during winter. However, these explosives are potentially dangerous and need careful handling and storage. To ensure your safety, you should:

• Only buy fireworks that are CE marked
• Not drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
• Keep fireworks in a closed box
• Follow the instructions on each firework
• Light them at arms length using a taper
• Stand well back 
• Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off it could still explode
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Always supervise children around fireworks
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
• Never give sparklers to a child under five
• Keep pets indoors
• Don’t set off noisy fireworks late at night, and never after 11 pm. 

Sparklers are often viewed as harmless for the whole family. Still, they do burn at fierce temperatures and can easily cause injuries. It’s vital to follow these steps when handling sparklers:  

• Light sparklers one at a time
• Supervise children with sparklers and never give them to children under five
• Make sure everyone handling sparklers wears gloves
• Hold sparklers at arm’s length while being lit
• Don’t wave sparklers about close to other people
• Never hold a baby in your arms while you are holding a sparkler
• When you finish the sparkler, put it in a bucket of cold water.