Fire Safety at Christmas

Christmas Trees

• An artificial tree is safer than a real tree as it is fire-resistant.
• Check for a genuine CE mark when you are buying.
• Information on identifying genuine or counterfeit CE marks can be found on the website of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
• If you choose to buy online from an auction site or company which is unfamiliar to you, you may be compromising your consumer rights and warranty. You may also be risking your safety. The product may not reach the safety standards that you expect.
• If you choose a real tree, use it with a base that allows for watering of the tree. This will keep the tree hydrated, greener, shed less, last longer and more resistant to fire.

• Use low-energy, low-heat LED Christmas tree lights. Never use candles.
• When you are ready to dispose of your Christmas Tree dispose of it in a recycling centre, or drop-off point. Details of these can be found on the website of your local authority. Do not burn your tree in a fireplace or stove.

Christmas Lights

• Use low-energy, low-heat LED lights wherever you can. Ensure they have a genuine CE mark.
• Only use outdoor lights outside. They have a better Ingress Protection (IP) rating which makes them resistant to damp and water.
• If you are using outdoor lights make sure all wires and connections are rated for the outdoors. Don’t pass wires through windows as this will damage the cable and possibly your window.
• Before putting up lights, check all the wiring for fraying, kinks or broken connections. Throw the lights out of you find any.
• Don’t overload sockets and avoid the use of extension leads.
• Unplug lights when you go to bed or go out. Don’t use timer switches.

Candles

• Choose reusable LED candles over real candles.
• If you choose to use real candles ensure they are place in a holder at least 1-metre from anything flammable and out of reach of children and pets.
• Don’t place a candle on a television or other surfaces, such as plastic or fibreglass.
• Never place a real candle in or near a real Christmas Tree.
• Never leave a candle burning when you leave a room. Not even for a moment.

Christmas Cheer

• Plan your Christmas visits and parties. If you are going to have a drink, have a designated driver or leave the car at home. Remember the following morning you could still be under the influence.
• Don’t cook if you have had a few drinks or have taken medication that may make you drowsy. Leave the Christmas dinner wine until the cooking is done.

Santa Claus

• Santa Claus loves a clean chimney, have your cleaned for him.
• Due to cutbacks, Santa may not provide batteries. Check in with him before-hand and have a stock. Never be tempted to remove batteries from Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Alarms.