This weekend looks to be a busy one for decking the halls - with the cold winter weather arriving with a flurry and the big day approaching, it feels like the perfect time to get those boxes out of the cupboard and starting untangling the lights for the tree!
In all the excitement it's easy to forget that lots of our favourite decorations can increase the risk of fire in our home - so here's some of our top tips to make sure your home is kept safe while it's filling up with that festive cheer:
- Never place candles near your tree or other flammable decorations like tinsel or streamers.
- Avoid hanging decorations, particularly paper ones, from lights or heaters.
- Make sure you regularly test your smoke alarms and only remove the batteries if you need to replace them. You can find out how to test your smoke alarm on our Help Hub.
- If you're moving furniture to accommodate your tree or so Santa can get down that chimney, try not to block any exit routes that you might need in case of an emergency.
- Never overload sockets or extension cords, and don't link extension cables together to make them longer.
- Create a safety plan with your family and make sure everyone knows how to get out - especially if you've got visitors over the festive season.
It might feel a bit bah humbug, but keeping safe is an essential part of having a merry and bright festive season.
