Fire Safety Tips for Bedrooms

Bedroom fires can be deadly, especially if you are asleep when one occurs. Unexpected items, such as deodorant cans and lightbulbs, can pose fire safety risks. Here's some tips to stay safe.

Fire Prevention in the Bedroom

Take the following steps to remove hazards and help reduce the risk of fire in your bedroom:

• Never smoke in the bedroom as you risk falling asleep with the cigarette still lit.
• Don’t charge mobile phones, tablets or e-cigarettes while you sleep.
• Never cover a device with a pillow or blanket while it is charging. (You can find further advice in our guide to charging your devices safely).
• Check electric blankets regularly for wear or damage and ensure you use them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Candles should be put in a proper holder that won't fall over. The holder should then be placed on a heat-resistant surface with nothing above it.
• Never leave candles unattended.
• Keep a torch or flashlight near your bed in case of an emergency.
• Hair straighteners, curling tongs and hair dryers can start fires so make sure to unplug them after use, rather than just switching them off.

• Never cover lightbulbs with material, as exposed bulbs give off a lot of heat.
• Try to use energy-saving, low heat bulbs.
• Keep vanity mirrors and crystals out of direct sunlight, remembering that the sun will move across the sky during the day.
• Keep pressurised cans, such as deodorant sprays and hairspray, out of direct sunlight and away from any sources of heat, including radiators.
• If you use a supplementary heater in your bedroom, ensure it is kept away from flammable materials.
• Make sure you can hear your home’s smoke alarm when your bedroom door is closed. If not, you should consider installing one in your bedroom.
• Is there a boiler in your bedroom? If so, you should also have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted.

Before Going to Bed

As well as taking the above steps, it is also a good idea to perform these checks before you go to sleep:

• Switch off and unplug all unnecessary appliances.
• Unplug any devices that are charging.
• Ensure that all the doors in your home are closed as this will help prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
• If you are a smoker, extinguish cigarettes fully and empty all ashtrays before going to bed. Ensure the ashtray's contents are fully extinguished before you dispose of them.

Evacuating your Bedroom

If a fire does occur, it is important to have an escape plan. You should make a bedroom evacuation plan that will work even if access to your home's exit doors are blocked by fire or smoke.

Plan two routes of escape from your home and ensure they are kept free of obstacles. You should also make sure that the keys for any windows or doors that you may need to escape through are easily accessible. (For further guidance on making an evacuation plan, check out our page on essential fire safety for the home.)

If you become trapped in your bedroom during a fire, you should:

• Close the door and seal the bottom of it with a towel or blanket.
• Go to the window, open it and try to attract the attention of people outside.
• At first floor level, as a last resort, you can hang from the window sill and drop to the ground. You should always lower children to the ground first as they may not follow after you.

Dublin Fire Brigade's Fire Prevention Programmes

Making Dublin safe from fires and other emergencies is at the heart of what we do. Dublin Fire Brigade runs a number of fire safety programmes, which aim to get the community involved in the prevention of fires.

If you would like a fire officer to talk to your school, business or community, get in touch below.