Be Fire Safe this Valentine’s Day
5th February 2019
Cooking, candles and romance are just some of the many things we associate with Valentine’s Day. But did you know that cooking equipment and candles are two of the biggest causes of fire in the UK?
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re sharing some fire safety advice to help you stay safe and make it a day to remember for all the right reasons.
Candles
Candles are supposed to give a romantic glow, not actual flames. Follow these tips when burning and extinguishing candles to stay safe.
- Never leave candles unattended. Put burning candles out when you leave the room and always remember to check that they are completely put out at night.
- Make sure candles are put out long before you go to sleep to avoid the danger of you accidentally knocking over a burning candle whilst asleep. Also, put candles out with a snuffer or spoon as sparks can fly if you blow them out.
- Once lit, don’t move any candles and don’t burn several candles close together as this could cause the flame to flare.
- Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, which is out of the way of draughts, vents or air currents. This will help to prevent rapid or uneven burning, soot and dripping.
- Never leave candles unattended. Put burning candles out when you leave the room and always remember to check that they are completely put out at night.
Cooking
If you’re bringing some romance to the table and cooking this Valentine’s Day, follow these tips to ensure your meal doesn’t go up in flames.
- Make sure pan handles don’t stick out from the cooker as they could be knocked off easily.
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
- Always double check that the cooker is off after you’ve finished cooking.
- Take care if you need to leave the kitchen during cooking. Turn the heat down whilst you leave the room to avoid potential fire risks.
- Always keep the oven, hob and grill clean. A build-up of fat and grease could potentially ignite a fire.
- Make sure pan handles don’t stick out from the cooker as they could be knocked off easily.
Lastly, make sure that you know your escape plans in the event of a fire. We hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Find out more about our range of public and in-house fire safety courses here.
