Holiday Safety

Before you go away make sure your house is fire safe.

Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances that will not be used whilst you are on holiday.
Make sure all gas appliances are turned off, empty all rubbish bins and ashtrays.
Make sure your smoke alarms work and close all internal doors before you leave the house - if there’s a fire whilst you are away the smoke alarm may alert a neighbour or passer by, closing the doors will stop the fire from spreading causing less damage.
Remember turn off the water at the mains and let a relative, friend or neighbour know that you are going away, if possible leave a key with them.

The beginning and the end of a holiday can often mean a long journey to and from the airport or your accommodation.

Check tyre pressures, tread and air. Top up your windscreen washer and oil levels before driving on a long trip.
Plan your route and scheduled in regular stops if you are going on a long journey.
Take your time getting to your destination, make sure you leave in plenty of time so that you don’t have to rush, stay relaxed on your journey and don’t speed.
Take regular breaks, at least every two hours and if possible share the driving on long journeys.
If you are driving to and from and airport take extra care as you may be driving early in the morning or very late at night when you would normally be asleep. You may consider staying at the airport if you have an early flight or late return. If not make sure you take a break and have a coffee before driving home after your return flight, if you have a long drive make sure you take regular breaks.

Park caravans or tents at least 6 metres apart and away from parked cars.
Make sure you know what the fire arrangements on the camp site are and where the nearest telephone is.
Never smoke in bed and if you are camping never smoke inside your tent.
If you are caravanning don’t leave cooking unattended and never use your cooker whilst your caravan is moving.
If you are camping make sure your cooking area is well away from your tent and that your cooking area is clear of items that can catch fire easily, including long dry grass.
Don’t build an open fire, use a barbecue or gas stove instead.

Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.
Remember to light your charcoal an hour before you commence cooking.
Use only barbecue fire lighters or starter fuel on cold coals.
Never use petrol or paraffin to start, or re-ignite your barbecue.
Don’t leave the barbecue unattended.
After you have finished cooking, extinguish the burning coals – leave for a period of time and then check that the fire is completely out.
Never use a barbecue inside your tent or caravan awning.

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the fire instructions for your accommodation or campsite.

When swimming in open water you may be putting yourself in danger as you could get into difficulty, even if you are a strong swimmer.
Open water can be cold, have hidden currents and sudden depth changes.
We strongly recommend that you only swim in supervised locations where there are likely to be lifeguards present.