Festive cheer
It’s great spending time with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, but this can mean extra distractions and disaster can strike.
Roasting this Christmas
A crowded house can bring distractions and celebrations can often result in cooking being left unattended.
Take extra care when cooking and don’t get distracted, remember turn off or turn down the heat if you have to leave the cooking unattended. Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
Enjoy a festive tipple with your Christmas dinner when you sit down and tuck in, alcohol lowers our concentration levels and increases the risks of accidents and fires. Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol.
Electrical goodies
If you’ve been good you may have receive a new phone, tablet or laptop for Christmas. Get into good habits and never leave it on charge overnight, and always make sure you are around when electrical goods are on charge.
It’s important to use the charger the manufacturer supplied as a cheap charger could damage your phone or tablet, and in some instances it can overheat and cause a fire.
Dec the house
Prefer a real tree to an artificial one? Place your tree away from heat sources. The heat will dry out the tree, and this could cause it to easily ignite by heat, flame or sparks.
Tinsel, baubles and the magic of fairy lights bring a tree to life. Check you fairy lights are still safe to use and carry the CE kite mark. Remember to switch off and unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house.
It might be tempting to use an adapter as there are never seem to be enough plugs at this time of year. To help keep you safe make sure there is only one plug per socket and always turn off at the plug when not in use
Candles help create a festive atmosphere, but unfortunately they also increase the risk of fire. Always place firmly in a proper holder and keep away from decorations and cards.
On the road again
Traveling to family or friends to celebrate Christmas or New Year? Plan your journey. Before you set off check your vehicles pressure and depth for all tyres, make sure your lights work, top up your screen wash and make sure your wipers and oil levels are okay.
Got lots of presents to deliver? Take extra care when packing your car, loose objects can become missiles in a crash.
Winter roads can bring additional hazards, drive for the conditions. It takes longer to brake on wet and icy roads, slow down, give yourself time to react and allow plenty of room between you and the car in front.
No call is that important. Even careful drivers can be distracted, by a phone call, text message. A split second lapse of concentration could result in a crash.
No one should have no one
Check on elderly relatives and neighbours this Christmas and make sure they are safe and warm at this time of year.
We are also supporting Age UK’s no one should have no one campaign that’s helping to tackle people being alone for Christmas. Find out more at ageuk.org.uk/no-one.