Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service - Christmas and New Year Safety
Page last updated on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Fairy Lights and Candles:
Fairy lights make your home look festive and bright, but it is important to remember to use them safely.
Fairy lights and Christmas tree lights don’t get used very often, so you should ensure they’re in good working order before using them:
• Check that the fuse in the plug is the right size.
• Replace any blown bulbs
• Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, such as paper or fabrics (be especially careful with other Christmas tree decorations).
• Always unplug fairy lights when you leave the house or go to bed.
• Candles can be dangerous, if you do use them in your home, always put them out when you leave the room, and keep them away from flammable materials such as greeting cards and decorations.
• Never place candles on a Christmas tree.
• Candles and nightlights are often used in celebrations for Christmas, they should never be put in or by a Christmas tree, plants, flowers or other foliage.
• You should also be careful that ribbons and other decorations aren’t near any candle flames.
Don’t Drink & Drive; Have a soft drink and stay alive!
• You can't calculate your alcohol limit.
• It takes less than you might think to become a drink driver.
• Nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit.
At Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service we hope that you do not have to invite us round during your festivities and hope you have a safe, enjoyable, fire and incident free celebration.
Useful contact points and further information:
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service homepage: www.hantsfire.gov.uk
Community Fire Safety Department: 023 8062 6809
Email: community.firesafety@hantsfire.gov.uk
• Adobe Acrobat reader
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it using the "Get Adobe® Reader button above.
• Also see
• Related Internet Links
- Hampshire County Council
- Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
- New Forest District Council
- New Forest National Park