Christmas safety made simple!

Candle care

• Keep candles away from curtains, cards, furniture, Christmas trees, decorations and wrapping paper.
• Never leave candles unattended and keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Deck the halls safely

• Use a stepladder to reach high spots.
• Make sure your Christmas tree is stable - curious toddlers and pets love to pull!
• Only use lights and electricals with a British or European safety mark.
• Keep lights away from flammable decorations and materials.
• Replace any damaged lights.
• Outdoor lights should still be plugged in indoors with a 30mA RCD-protected socket.
• Avoid overloading sockets or using too many adaptors. You should never plug one adapter into another.
• Switch off all lights at bedtime or when leaving the house.

Toy tips from Santa

• Choose toys with CE or CE UKNI marks and buy from trusted suppliers.
• Check that festive novelties are suitable for children.
• Be careful with second-hand toys as they might not be safe.
• Follow age guidelines - these are there to protect children from choking or sharp edges.
• Supervise use of potential hazardous toys like chemistry sets.
• Keep small pieces, like Lego, away from younger children.
• Secure batteries with screws - they’re extremely danger us if swallowed.

For more advice on keeping children, older people, or vulnerable adults safe at home, contact our Home Safety Team on 028 9244 7397.