Creating a safe and festive home for Christmas

There are many emergencies that come with Christmas decorations, whether it is overloaded sockets or leaving Christmas lights on and unattended. Make sure to follow these steps…

Christmas lights

First things first, when putting up Christmas lights on your tree, outside, around your home, its important you’re buying the correct lights and that they are safe. By checking they are safe, the lights you are using should carry the British Safety Standard sign.

Also consider:

• You are not overloaded your sockets, using various extension leads and having them overlapping.
• Making sure lights are out the way of people and are tucked away, this is to avoid people tripping over and falling.
• Make sure your lights are working properly, this is to avoid any electrical problems.
• Unplug the lights before you go to bed or leave the house.

Candles

Candles are a very festive piece of decoration, they make your home feel warm and smell lovely, however, are insanely dangerous. When lighting candles you should take extra care of your surroundings, especially at Christmas when everything is busy, and they could go unnoticed.

You should consider:

• Avoid placing candles next to Christmas trees or anything that could catch light easily.
• When doing your Christmas dinner, avoid having candles on the table, since it will be busy and Christmas crackers will be around, one wrong move could cause chaos.
• If you are leaving a room and there will be no one there, blow out the candle just in case.
• Keep candles, lighters and matches out of sight of children.

Cooking

Christmas dinner is one of the most important parts about Christmas day, everyone comes together to share laughs around the table as well as enjoying delicious food. The lead up however can be quite stressful and there are many precautions to take.

• Most fires start in the kitchen and leaving a cooker unattended can cause danger, so make sure to always be aware of what’s happening in the kitchen.
• Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol, celebrate after all the cooking has been done, it will be a lot more worth it.
• Testing your smoke alarms would be useful before this event, you are doing a lot of things at once doing a Christmas dinner, so having a functioning smoke alarm would come in handy in case of emergency.
• Make sure children are clear of the kitchen when cooking.

Decorations

Decorating your home at Christmas spreads the Christmas cheer, but you should be careful with how and where you decorate.

• Keep decorations away from lights or heaters, they could burn easily or even catch light.
• Keep decorations away from a fire.
• Make sure entrances are clear of decorations.

Your loved ones

Your loved ones in care are probably overwhelmed for what is going on, on Christmas day. As much as they are happy for their friends and family to be around, they need checked up on.

• Check on them regularly to see if they are okay.
• If a lot is going on, take them for a break for a few minutes of silence.
• Keep them well away from hazardous things like a fire, candles, lights.
• Make sure they are comfortable and well fed.

Extra precautions

• If you have a fire alight, be careful when unwrapping presents that wrapping paper doesn’t go near the fire.
• Make sure cigarettes are put out properly.
• Make sure your family and friends know where to escape to in case of an emergency.
• If you are lighting fireworks, do it safely and don’t reuse old ones- keep a bucket of water nearby.

Christmas is a happy time for all, but make sure you are safe and aware of everyone around you. You don’t want something that could be avoided to ruin your Christmas.

We're here for you!

Contact us to speak to our Care Management Team and stay safe this Christmas!