Stay safe this Christmas

While everyone wants to enjoy all the fun of the festive season, it’s essential to bear in mind fire safety at this time of year.

No one wants to see Christmas delight turn into tragedy, so please keep your family safe by following our top seasonal safety tips:

E-bikes and e-scooters

If you are thinking of gifting a e-bike or e-scooter this Christmas, remember to only buy from reputable sellers and always use the manufacturer recommended batteries and chargers.

Decorating your front door

If you live in a flat, please don’t attach any decorations to your front door. As reported in our last issue we are busy installing new front doors which are specially designed to withstand smoke and fire. If you are yet to receive your new front door, please make sure that you are home at the specified appointment time.

In order for the fire doors to do their job, they must not be tampered with so that means never drilling or attaching anything to the door or frame.

If you do want to display a festive wreath on your front door please either use a wreath hanger which hooks around the top of the door, or place a sticky picture hook upside down on the inside of the door and then run a long piece of string or ribbon over the top and attach to your wreath.

Christmas lights

Sparkling fairy lights and twinkling candles give a warm and festive glow, but they can be dangerous (and even deadly) if you’re not careful. Always remember to turn off Christmas lights and blow out candles at night and whenever you go out.

Candles and flames

Candle fires destroy hundreds of homes each year across the country, so please be extra cautious. Don’t leave children or pets in a room with a lit candle and keep naked flames away from Christmas decorations and material like curtains or tablecloths which could easily catch alight.

Electrical safety

Emergency services are called to deal with electric fires in homes each Christmas. Keep your family safe by unplugging devices and electrical items at night, never overloading plug sockets and only using the approved manufacturer’s cables and chargers. Check out more electrical safety advice.

Real Christmas trees

If you have a real Christmas tree make sure you water it regularly to stop it drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

Other fire safety tips

Check online for lots more top tips from the experts at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to help keep your festive fun fire free.