Give the gift of life

Give the gift of life and cook safely this Christmas

Christmas dinner, wrapping presents and decorations – there's lots to think about this Christmas.

But one thing is urging residents to do is to give the gift of life and put fire safety at the top of their Christmas lists in the final stage of their Christmas safety campaign.

Although fire safety is important at every time of year, the extra distractions of Christmas make it especially important to be vigilant during the festive season.

With cooking naturally high on the agenda, people should take extra care in the kitchen as, without care, a forgotten pot on a high heat or an overfilled pan of oil can quickly turn a Christmas feast into a matter of life and death. Last year over half of all accidental fires in the home in England were linked to cooking.

In December 2011 there were 2,834 accidental fires in the home in England – more than any other month of the year. This is why firefighters are reminding people to take extra care over the festive season to ensure that their families and loved ones are protected from fire.

Keith Brooks, Head of Prevention and Protection, says: "Christmas is a time for festive cheer with family and friends. But fairy lights, candles and decorations, coupled with cooking Christmas treats, means it is also a time to take extra care to keep our family and loved ones safe from fire.

"To ensure you have the merriest of Christmases, keep fire safety at the top of your list. Ensure you never leave cooking unattended, place candles in suitable holders and away from curtains and, of course, test your smoke alarms.

"From everyone at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service we wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas."

The Service has produced a Christmas safety advert called Give Santa a Helping Hand this Christmas. Look and listen out for it on television and local radio over the festive period.
Here are the Service's safety tips:

• Never leave cooking unattended. The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Avoid cooking whilst under the influence of alcohol and always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
• Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home. A working alarm can give you the vital time needed to escape in a fire. Test your smoke alarms regularly and never remove batteries to power presents
• Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas to ensure their safety as they are at greater risk from fire.
• Never leave burning candles unattended. Keep candles out of the reach of children, and away from decorations, cards and wrapping paper, fires, lights and heaters.
• Put your cigarette out, right out. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and take care when drunk or tired. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight.
• Don't overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.
• Ensure you switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
• Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment. This safety device can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault and can be found in any DIY store.
• Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire – in the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999

Visit our website for more safety information – www.cheshirefire.gov.uk

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