Christmas safety tips

• Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard. Always use an RCD on outdoor electrical equipment (that is a safety device that can save lives by instantly switching off the power).
• Make sure you buy the right set of lights for indoor use, outdoor use, or both.
• Before decorating, check all light sets for frayed wires, damaged sockets, or cracked insulation. If you find any defects, replace the entire set.
• Don't overload your electrical sockets – one plug per socket only. You can use multi-socket extensions but they must also be Kite or CE marked.
• Keep fresh cut trees well-watered and keep extension cords and light strings away from the water.
• All lights must have a Kite Mark or CE mark and they must be used as per the instructions that come with them. They should come with a fixed plug and the wiring must never be altered.
• Do not let light bulbs touch anything that can burn easily.
• Switch off electrical appliances when not in use, unless they’re designed to stay on. Take special care with fairy lights. Always switch off and unplug fairy lights before you go to bed.

• Decorations should be fire retardant – check this when buying them.
• Never place candles near a Christmas tree or furnishings. Don't leave them burning unattended.
• Make sure you water your live tree - a dry tree, is a flammable tree.
• Light paper, tissue and cotton wool burn very easily and should not be used.
• When watering your live Christmas tree, make sure no water goes onto electrical equipment.
• Make sure your family and visitors staying for the festive period know what to do in an emergency, get them to practice your fire escape plan.
• Decorations can burn easily, don't attach them to lights or heaters.
• Switch off electrical appliances when not in use unless they’re designed to stay on. Take special care with Christmas lights. Always switch off and unplug Christmas lights before you go to bed.
• Celebrate Christmas and New Year safely. The risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed, enjoy yourself but be careful!
• Most fires start in the kitchen - never leave cooking unattended.
• If you are planning to celebrate with fireworks, store them in a metal box, read the instructions, never go back to a lit firework and keep a bucket of water nearby.
• Make sure cigarettes or cigars are completely extinguished.
• Check the battery in your smoke alarm every week and use Christmas as a reminder to clean it and remove dust.
• Keep candles, lighters and matches out of reach of children.
• Pumpkins should be lit with battery lights.
• Don’t allow rubbish to build up – think about how you will get rid of wrapping paper, party hats or anything that may burn easily.
• No decorations should be attached to lights, touch lights or be placed above heaters or fireplaces.
• Only light your tree when you are at home to keep a check on it and awake to enjoy it.

It is safer not to use candles in your home, please consider a safer alternative e.g. battery lit lights.  But if you do use candles, please make sure you do so safely:

• Always put candles on a heat resistant surface. Be especially careful with night lights and tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic. TVs are not fire-resistant objects.
• Ensure candles are in secure and suitable containers - candles need to be held firmly upright by the holder so they won’t fall over. The holder needs to be stable too, so it won’t fall over either.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Never position in a draught, anywhere near curtains or near any materials, which could ignite.
• Don’t put them under shelves. It’s easy to forget that there’s a lot of heat above a burning candle. If you put it under a shelf or other surface then it can burn the surface. Make sure there’s at least three feet (one metre) between a candle and any surface above it.
• Keep clothes and hair away. If there’s any chance you could lean across a candle and forget it’s there, put it somewhere else. You don’t want to set fire to your clothes or your hair.
• Keep children and pets away. Candles should be out of reach of children and pets.
• Keep candles apart. Leave at least four inches (10cm) between two burning candles.
• Take care with votive or scented candles. These kinds of candles turn to liquid to release their fragrance, so put them in a glass or metal holder.
• Don’t move them when they’re burning. Extinguish candles before moving them. Also, don’t let anything fall into the hot wax like match sticks,
• Don’t leave them burning. Extinguish candles before you leave a room. Never go to sleep with a candle still burning. And never leave a burning candle or oil burner in a child’s bedroom.
• Use a snuffer or a spoon to put them out. It’s safer than blowing them, which can send sparks and hot wax flying.
• Double check they’re out. Candles that have been put out can go on smouldering and start a fire. Make sure they’re completely out.

• Cables and wires should be carefully placed so they don’t run across areas where people walk.
• Christmas trees must be stable and secure so that they do not fall over.
• Think about how you will put up and take down decorations. Standing on furniture or moving heavy items may cause you injury. Ask for help if you need it.
• Take the time to check on elderly relatives and neighbours - make sure they and their homes are fire safe.

As the rate of domestic burglaries goes up at this end of the year, owing to the darker evenings and the lure of expensive Christmas presents in many people’s homes, the Police would like to issue some basic home security advice to the public.

Common methods used by burglars to enter people’s homes:

• Burglars gain entry via insecure doors or windows.  Burglars standing on wheelie bins that have been left out under open bedroom windows.
• Noticing a house is empty from there being no lights on at night, or a car is not on the driveway DIY tools or gardening tools left out in the garden being used to pry open doors or windows.
• Leaving keys or valuables on display where they can be seen and reached easily through open windows or doors.
• Items of interest to burglars are mainly jewellery, games consoles, laptops, mobile phones, wallets, handbags or car keys left lying around or in coats or jacket are just some of the high value items which burglars are looking for. 

Tips on home security:

• Having an alarm or CCTV fitted to your property.  In some incidences, it has allowed police to identify the burglar and provides vital evidence for the prosecution case. For example, where the burglar has travelled between towns and cities to target properties, CCTV can help in linking the offender to a numerous offences.
• Consider outdoor planting around your house as putting plants or shrubs that have prickly thorns around the base of windows or drainpipes can deter burglars from targeting your property.
• Gravel paths to doorways can provide an early warning when someone is approaching your property.
• Fitting multi lever locks to patio doors makes it difficult for burglars to lift the doors out of their frames.
• A dark house/building is vulnerable to burglary, during the winter months there is a distinct increase in the number of burglaries during the twilight period. If you know your home or business is empty after dark protect your property, then:
• Use a segment timer to turn a light on in an active room (Burglars know that people don’t congregate on their stairs)
• Use your blinds to your advantage, tilt to remove opportunity of looking in
• Keep valuables out of view
• Lock you windows and doors (most burglars gain access via insecure/open doors and windows)
• Use outside lighting
• Join a Homewatch/Businesswatch scheme - look after your neighbours
• If you have any information concerning criminal activity in their area or sees any suspicious activity, they should contact the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Energy Tips to save money during the festive period, whilst still having a lovely Christmas:

• Consider using timers for the lights so they only come on at set times in the evening.
• Make sure that you don’t put lots of items in front of radiators as it prevents the heat circulating around the room.
• Use LED Christmas tree lights as they are more energy efficient using less electricity than standard Christmas lights.
• Christmas lights and lighted Christmas decorations will not provide the same effect during the day as they do at night so turn them on at dusk and off before you go to bed.
• When cooking the Christmas Dinner cut veg into smaller pieces and put the lid on the pan so the food cooks quicker.