Ascension : Christmas Fire Safety
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 09.12.2010 (Article Archived on 23.12.2010)

Christmas, as well as being a joyous occasion, can also be a time of tragedy. The chance of fire occurring in our homes is increased by introducing such items as paper decorations, Christmas trees, temporary lighting and large amounts of wrapping paper and boxes, etc.

 
ASCENSION ISLAND GOVERNMENT
FIRE & SEA RESCUE SERVICE

Christmas Fire Safety

Christmas, as well as being a joyous occasion, can also be a time of tragedy. The chance of fire occurring in our homes is increased by introducing such items as paper decorations, Christmas trees, temporary lighting and large amounts of wrapping paper and boxes, etc. The chance of fire occurring is often further increased by larger than normal numbers of people in the home, and the inevitable consumption of alcohol. Fire does not respect Christmas and by following the simple precautions below can dramatically reduce the risk of fire in your home and prevent an unwanted surprise for Christmas.

v  Always turn Christmas tree and temporary lights off and remove the plug at night before going to bed or when the home is going to be unoccupied for any lengthy period of time.

v  Ensure Christmas lights carry the safety standard mark and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

v  Do not overload plug sockets and ensure plugs are fitted with the correct fuse.

v  Ensure candles are in proper holders so they can’t fall over, don’t leave lit candles unattended for any length of time and always keep out of children’s reach and away from combustible materials i.e. curtains, etc. Never move a lit candle, always extinguish it first.

v  Make sure smokers extinguish their cigarettes completely in an ashtray and ensure the contents are cold before emptying in the bin. Never smoke in bed, it’s too easy to fall asleep and set the bedding on fire.

v  Never leave cooking unattended, remember fire starts when your attention stops.

v  Take extra care after drinking alcohol.

v  If fitted, test your smoke alarm on a regular basis.

Remember: If there’s a fire…….Get Out……!!!

                                                      Stay Out……!!!

                                                      and call the Fire Service Out……!!!

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