As the festive season is upon us, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has unveiled a new Christmas safety advert, designed to deliver the most important gift of all - safety for you and your loved ones this festive season.
In December 2024, Derbyshire firefighters attended 31 accidental house fires where five people were injured. One of these fires was caused by a candle in a child’s bedroom. The fire spread to bedding and items in the bedroom - the child was taken to hospital due to minor injuries.
Firefighters also attended 45 road traffic collisions in the same month. This is not a Christmas that anyone should experience, so have set out on an important mission to keep everyone safe this year.
The hope is that, whilst the video, which has been posted on line, may not rival the big corporate TV ads, it would still be seen by as many people as possible.
A number of Christmas home fire safety tips have been published, along with those relating to road safety, which can be seen on our website.
Home fire safety at Christmas:
- Only buy your Christmas lights from a reputable retailer
- Ensure your Christmas lights conform to British Standards (BS EN60598)
- Keep all decorations away from heaters and open flames.
- Never leave cooking unattended—especially after consuming alcohol.
- Extinguish candles and cigarettes fully before bed. Never leave a candle burning when you're not in the room!
- Keep real Christmas trees well-watered to reduce the risk of a fire.
- Ensure you use a fireguard with all open fires, and keep your fuel a safe distance from the fire!
- Check on elderly neighbours and relatives to ensure their safety.
- Test your smoke alarm every week.
- Never take the batteries out of your smoke alarm!
- Ensure everyone (including guests and family) knows your escape plan, and know to Get Out, Stay Out and Call 999 in an emergency.
You can carry out a simple FREE DIY home fire safety check to check if you are at risk of a fire, and what you can do to minimise that risk by visiting Home Fire Safety Check: Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Road Safety at Christmas:
- If you’re heading out for a drink, plan your journey home before you go out. Choose a designated driver, use public transport, or book a taxi.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We shouldn’t even have to state this!
- Always drive to the conditions. Wind, rain, snow, ice and fog at this time of the year can all impact on stopping distances and speed!
- Never drive through flood water!
For more information, resources, and safety tips, visit Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service’s website or follow on social media.
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