For many households, December is the most wonderful time of the year. The festive lights, Christmas tree and decorations can make a home feel magical. However, if you’re not careful, they can also become a fire safety risk.
In this post, we’ll outline some ways you can safely celebrate this Christmas.
Christmas trees
Whether you opt for a real or fake tree, both can present fire risks.
If you choose to go for an artificial tree, try to get one which is ‘fire-retardant’. It won’t prevent a fire completely but will slow down the spread of fire.
If you decide to get a real tree, check it’s fresh before taking it home. Some good signs are how green it is, a strong pine smell and not too many needles falling when tapped on the ground.
Another point to remember with real trees is keeping them watered. Not only does keeping your tree watered help keep it fresh for longer, but it will also slow down the spread of a fire.
Christmas lights
Often what causes the first spark is a fault with the lighting.
Always check the condition of lights before putting them on. If they are very old, they may be electrically unsafe.
Lights that are left on for long periods of time can also heat up, so remember to never leave them on overnight or when no one is around.
If you sometimes struggle to remember to switch them off, plug timers can be used to automatically switch Christmas lights off and help keep energy costs down!
Overloading sockets
You may find yourself needing to plug more electrical items in during Christmas. Remember, never plug an extension lead into another extension lead or use multiple extension leads in sockets. Lastly, always check the wattage of appliances and inspect sockets regularly for marks or signs of overheating.
