Fire & Rescue Safety Advice
Information from our Fire & Rescue service – please contact them directly with any questions online or by telephone on 0300 123 4046.
The 12 Potential hazards of Christmas
- Buying a Christmas gift that needs a lithium battery: did you know lithium batteries can catch fire?
- Road Safety and Drink Driving: It is not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit.
- Christmas fairy lights and decorations: unsafe use of such items as fairy lights can cause fire.
- Family Escape plan: Have you thought about how you would all escape in the unlikely case of a fire?
- Have you had your chimney swept? Santa needs a clear way in and out!
- Candle safety: don’t leave candles unattended.
- Cooking and drinking don’t mix! Leaving cooking unattended is one of the main causes of fire.
- Test your smoke alarms at Christmas.
- Electrical safety: Never overload electrical sockets.
- Check on your elderly neighbours and relatives.
- Portable heater safety: Please be aware that portable heaters should have BS kite marks.
- Slips, trips and falls: Alcohol can be part of the festivities at Christmas and along with extension leads or wiring from additional decorations could be the cause of a trip or a fall.
Read more here.
Home Visits
More than three quarters of fire-related deaths happen in the home. You can make sure that your home is safe by arranging a Home Fire Safety Visit from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Home Fire Visits are carried out by uniformed fire service staff free of charge. You will receive advice on making your home safe and how to keep yourself healthy and well. Fire and Rescue Service will fit smoke detectors where necessary and check your existing ones.
With a working smoke alarm, you are 4 times more likey to survive. It won’t cost you a penny, but it could save a life!
Help is available so get in touch by telephone on 0300 123 4046.