Fire electrical safety
Take care when cooking
- Cooking is one of the leading causes of fires in homes. The kitchen is generally the highest risk area in the home.
- Stay alert and do not get distracted whilst cooking. Most kitchen fires occur when people leave things unattended.
- Do not leave children alone in the kitchen.
- Keep the oven, hob and grill clean. A build-up of fat and bits of food can start a fire.
- Clean out the crumb tray in toasters regularly.
- Clear lint from tumble dryers extracts.
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker.
- Keep electrical appliances and leads away from water.
- Switch off all non-essential appliances at night.
Using portable heaters safely
Electrical heaters can be a great way to keep warm, especially if you only want to warm up one room. However, they should be used with care. Fires caused by portable heaters do happen and have resulted in fatalities
- Don’t put anything on top of heaters. Never use it to dry your clothes.
- Keep your heater away from bedding, curtains and furniture.
- Never leave your heater unattended whilst in use or when you are asleep.
- Never power a heater from an extension lead, they can easily be overloaded and cause fires.
- Before moving your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool.
- Keep portable heaters in a safe place, both when they are being used and when they are being stored.
- Ensure your heater is in good working order, do not use it if its faulty.
- Do not leave young children or pets unattended in areas where portable heaters are switched on.