Watts The Danger

There have been 835 fires in homes involving electrical items in Staffordshire in the past five years (2015 – 2019). Sadly, three people have lost their lives in these fires and 121 people were injured. It’s the second biggest cause of fires but there are many things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Be switched on when it comes to electrical safety this winter. Check out our top 10 tips to help keep you safe:

1. Ensure your Christmas lights have the British Standards mark. Untangle them and check for any frayed wires before putting on your tree.
2. Don’t overload sockets, keep one appliance to one plug where possible and never use a cube adaptor.
3. Never leave washing machines or tumble dryers running overnight or when you leave the house. Make sure you clean the filter on your tumble dryer regularly and remove the fluff.
4. Don’t leave batteries or electronic items charging overnight or when you leave the house.
5. Keep all appliances clean and in good working order. Ensure plugs, wiring or cabling isn’t damaged.
6. Freezers should be defrosted at least once a year to ensure they continue to work properly.
7. Never put clothes to dry on or near to an electric heater.
8. Always unplug electric heaters when going out of the house or to bed.
9. Never fold your electric blanket to store and replace it at least every 10 years.
10. Register, register, register! You can register all household appliances at www.registermyappliance.org.uk so that if any recalls are issued due to safety concerns then you will be notified and can take action. You can also check the status of older or second hand models. Always register other electrical products with their manufacturer when you buy them or by visiting www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk where you can also use the search facility to check for recalls of products.

For more information and safety advice visit our Electrical Safety page.