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Is Christmas a safe or dangerous time in the home
00:00 Fri 07th Dec 2001 | Home & Garden
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The Christmas festivities have casualty departments working overtime throughout the country, and we're not just talking about the consequences of too much alcohol and general over-indulgence.�
On average over 80,000 people end up in hospital as a result of festive activities within the home and unfortunately that translates into around 130 deaths every year.
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Q.� Where should we start in making things safe
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A large proportion of accidents are fire related, starting with Christmas lights.For many of us the Christmas lights come out every year from a box in the loft or the back of the closet. Before you put them up always check the connections to the plug. It is now recommended you use a three-way fuse rather than the average 13amp variety and put them on a circuit breaker (RCD) which will cut the electricity if there is a serious problem.
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Having done that, check the whole string ensuring any bulbs that don't work haven't got visible wires hanging out that children could touch. If in any doubt, sling the old ones and buy a new set that has the British Standard Kite mark on it.
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If you want to decorate the outside of your house or garden with lights always make sure they are specifically designed for outdoor use. Never, ever try using inside fairy lights on the outside of the house or in the garden.
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Q.� What about other fire risks
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Christmas decorations like streamers, strings of cards are part and parcel of most people's festive celebrations but are all made of paper. Always make sure they are safely out of the reach of hot radiators, open fires or candles.�
On the subject of candles, essentially a naked flame in the middle of the house, we light more of them at Christmas than any other time of year. Make sure they are well away from other decorations, curtains or drapes, are put in holders that don't easily tip over and are all blown out before you go to bed.
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Q. What are the main threats to children
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Children like to grab and pull, especially when things are shiny, bright and unfamiliar. Always hide the source of the Christmas lights by obscuring the plug and, if you have a toddler, try and start the lights out of reach.�
The same goes for the tree decorations. When you hang them, make sure small, chokeable-on objects are out of reach. Be careful with the floral decorations as well. Many seasonal berries, including holly, are toxic.
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Q.� And pets
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Pets enjoy Christmas about as much as they enjoy November 5th when we start pulling the crackers. Their are plenty of seasonal domestic disasters caused by pets doing things like pulling trees down when they played with tree decorations, injuring themselves on shattered glass baubles or eating titbits with tree needles attached.�
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By Tom Gard
