Fire safety starts with awareness. Keep matches, candles, and lighters out of children’s reach, follow safe smoking habits, and be cautious with emollient creams near flames. Simple precautions can prevent devastating fires – stay alert, stay safe
Matches, Candles and Lighters
Children as young as two can be fascinated by fire, the flicker of a flame, blowing out birthday candles and the bright colours of lighters.
The flame from a candle can easily cause a fire, and some candle holders can get very hot, especially tea-lights. Place them on a safe surface or in suitable holders.
Candle safety checklist:
- Use a secure candle holder, ensuring the candle fits firmly inside.
- Keep candles away from draughts, curtains, furniture, or other flammable materials.
- Avoid placing candles on non-heat-resistant surfaces like televisions.
- Never leave a candle unattended or lit when going to sleep.
- Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
- Never move a lit candle or use one as a nightlight— use a low-watt main or battery-powered light instead.
Safer Smoking Habits
For smokers who smoke, you should:
- put it out, right out
- never smoke in bed
- avoid drugs and alcohol
- never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended
- use a heavy ashtray that can’t tip over easily
It’s never too late to quit and it’s easier to stop smoking with the right support. Download the free NHS Quit Smoking app for personalised support to help you quit smoking for good.
Emollient Creams
Emollient skin creams and ointments are often used to treat conditions like eczema and psoriasis. While they are safe to use, these products may contain paraffin, shea or cocoa butter, beeswax, lanolin, nut oil or mineral oils, which can soak into clothing, dressings and bedding leaving a flammable residue.
If exposed to a naked flame or a heat source, such as a cigarette, lighter, gas cooker, heater or fire, these saturated fabrics can catch fire; the residue will help the fire develop and spread rapidly, which could result in serious injury or death.
If you or someone you care for uses paraffin-based emollients, you should:
- never smoke in bed
- never smoke if there is chance your clothing could be contaminated with emollients
- never sit too close to open fires, gas fires or halogen heaters
- always wash your clothing and bedding daily at the highest temperature recommended by the fabric care instructions to reduce contamination
