Electrical Fire Safety Week
Electrical Fire Safety Week is a nationwide campaign and aims to raise awareness of one of the biggest causes of accidental house fires in the country.
Electrical appliances have become a staple of modern life - from fridges and phones to toasters or the TV, it's hard to think of how we would get by without a few electrically-powered essentials.
We would like to offer you some electrical safety advice to help keep you safe in your home:
- Don't overload plug sockets
An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take so, to help reduce the risk of fire, be careful not to overload them. Try to keep to one plug per socket.
- Regularly check for frayed or worn cables and wires
Check to see if the cable is fastened securely to the plug and check the socket for scorch marks. You should always carry out these checks before you plug an appliance in.
- Unplug appliances when not in use
This helps to reduce the risk of fire. Unplug appliances when you go to bed or when you go out unless they are designed to be left on, like freezers.
- Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order
Look out for fuses that blow, circuit-breakers that trip for no obvious reason and flickering lights to prevent them triggering a fire.
- Check for British or European safety mark
Make sure an appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
- Always check that you use the right fuse to prevent overloading.
When you're fitting or replacing a fuse, it's important to use the right fuse for the appliance to make sure the cable doesn't overheat and that the appliance is protected in the event of a fault.
- Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999
Never use water on an electrical fire and don't take any risks with your safety. Pull the plug out or switch the power off if it is safe to do so. Get out, stay out and call 999.
- Try to secure heaters up against a wall to stop them falling over.
- Keep heaters clear from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
- Don't cover air vents on storage heaters or fan heaters.
More information on Portable heater safety
- Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
- When not in use, store blankets flat, rolled-up or loosely folded.
- Don't use a hot water bottle at the same time as using your electric blanket.
More information on Electric blanket safety
Electrical Safety Council
The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is an independent charity committed to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents at home and also in the workplace.
Electrical Safety Council website (opens in new window)
Electrical Safety Council Smartphone App
The Electrical Safety Council app allows anyone - whether they live in the home or are looking to move into it - to do a quick, visual check, to ensure its electrically safety. Designed to be as easy-to-use as possible, the app highlights potential dangers in each room and explains how to resolve simple, non-technical problems.
Where more serious issues are flagged, people are advised to use a registered electrician. The app is available for iPhone and Android phones
To download the app from your iPhone, visit the iTunes app store (opens in new window) or Android market (opens in new window) and search 'Home Electrical Safety Check'.