Acting Chief Fire Officer, Shondell Hodge, is appealing to member of the public to remain vigilant during the Christmas holidays. In a press release, the Acting Chief reminded everyone that Christmas is a time of year when the risk of fires in the home, particular kitchen fires, can dramatically increase.
He said that even though kitchen fires can occur at any time of year, statistics around the world have indicated that 50 percent of all accidental fires in the home occur during the Christmas holidays. The potential risk of getting distracted while cooking can increase massively due to the number of family and friends in the home and the sheer volume of dishes that need to be prepared.
Christmas is the time of year when people are usually running around snapping up their last minute bargains, and fire safety is often the last thing on their minds – but if we spend a couple seconds to think about fire safety in our homes can make all the difference. Some simple precautionary measures – like ensuring you’ve got a working smoke alarm, being careful with candles and Christmas decorations and remembering to turn the oven off when you have finished cooking – can dramatically safeguard your home and persons at your home.
This information is not designed to alarm people, but we want all of our residents to be mindful that fires often start when your attention stops – and at Christmas time simple distractions, such as party games, friends and families coming to dinner, can so easily result in a burnt ham or turkey or even worse!
The Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service have put together 10 simple safety tips to help residents stay safe during the Christmas holidays:
1. Check your Christmas tree lights. Make sure the wiring isn’t split. In addition, ensure that the correct fuses are used.
2. Never place candles near your Christmas tree or furnishings,
and never leave them burning unattended.
3. Make sure your family and visitors staying for the festive period know what to do in an emergency. Practice a fire escape plan.
4. Decorations can burn easily. Don’t attach them to lights or heating devices, and never hang them above open flames.
5. Switch off electrical appliances when not in use unless they’re designed to stay on. Take special care with Christmas lights. Always switch off and unplug Christmas lights before you go to bed.
6. Celebrate Christmas and New Year safely. The risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed.
7. Most fires start in the kitchen. Never leave cooking unattended.
8. Check the battery in your smoke alarm every month, and use Christmas as a reminder to clean it and the remove dust.
9. Keep candles, lighters and matches out of the reach of children.
10. Purchase a fire extinguisher
On the behalf of everyone at the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to wish you a very happy, and most importantly safe, Christmas and New Year.
