Fire Safety Tips For The Christmas Period Released By The National Directorate For Fire And Emergency Management
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) is launching a campaign to combat avoidable festive fires this Christmas season. Fire risks are significantly increased at this time of the year with busier households, more candles being used and more lights being left plugged in for long periods of time. To tackle these issues, the NDFEM have released a series of things to remember to keep your household safe from fire this Christmas.
Speaking about the launch of their campaign, National Director for Fire and Emergency Management Keith Leonard said: “While the festive period is a time of great cheer for us all, it is also a time of the year that brings additional risk of fire. This campaign asks people to stay vigilant to ‘stop fire starting’ by eliminating the causes of fire in the home, have a working smoke alarm and an escape plan from their home should a fire break out.
“Over the festive season, we are asking people not to overload sockets, to unplug lights and electronic devices and be cautious with candles and open fires. Finally, we’re also asking people to check in on older or vulnerable neighbours, families and friends to make sure their homes are fire safe.”
Each of the tips recommended as part of the NDFEM Christmas fire safety campaign are listed below:
| 1. Have a working fire alarm fitted in your house |
| 2. Ensure flammable items like Christmas trees, cards and decorations are kept away from open flames and other heat sources. Plug out all Christmas lights during the night and if you are installing an artificial tree in your home make sure that it is flame retardant |
| 3. Drink sensibly to ensure that you are not unsafely using candles, cigarettes and cooking equipment while under the influence of alcohol which may impair proper safe thinking. |
| 4. Be vigilant when using open fires or stoves. Chimneys that are not properly cleaned are at an increased risk of catching fire |
| 5. Make sure that all electrical equipment is in proper working order and do not overload sockets. It is also recommended to plug out electrical devices at night before going to bed. This will ensure that plugs and electrical equipment do not overheat and start a fire. |
| 6. Ensure that all cigarettes are extinguished properly and dampen ash trays before leaving them unattended overnight |
| 7. If a fire does break out in your house, get out of the house and call the emergency services on 999 or 112 |
Additionally, advice has been provided by the NDFEM in the form of 3 things people must check to ensure that they have the best chance of avoiding fires in their house. They have also asked that people check the following with elderly and vulnerable members of their community. These are:
| 1.Do you have working smoke alarms? |
| 2. Are there clear escape routes out of your house in case of a fire? |
| 3. Is your home fire safe? |
