| With the cold winter nights upon us, here are a list | | | | flues, including a simple CO check, will put your |
| of top tips to help keep you and your family safe | | | | mind at rest that everything is in safe working |
| during the coming months. | | | | order. |
| Love Your Boiler | | | | Lights and Electricity |
| By servicing your boiler on a yearly basis, you will | | | | Electric heaters and kitchen appliances are in |
| not only reduce the likelihood of a breakdown, but | | | | constant use during the winter and should also be |
| may actually increase the working life of your | | | | checked to ensure they meet safety standards |
| boiler by up to five years. | | | | by a registered electrician. |
| If the worst happens and your boiler breaks | | | | If a piece of electrical equipment cuts out |
| down during the festive period, there are a couple | | | | continually, gives off a strange smell or if the plug |
| of quick checks you can do. Central heating | | | | feels warm, switch off immediately and get it |
| systems often switch off for reasons other than | | | | checked! |
| there being a problem with the system itself. For | | | | Remember:o Never overload power points.o For |
| example, there may not be enough water in the | | | | appliances that use a lot of power such as |
| system or the fuse may have blown. | | | | heaters, hair dryers and kettles, use only one plug |
| These are the first two things that an engineer | | | | per socket |
| will check and are often found to be the problem. | | | | Candles and Flames |
| Both are simple things to fix, so try checking your | | | | Candle safety is all about common sense, but |
| water gauge and topping up the system or | | | | during the festive season being sensible can be |
| replacing the fuse. | | | | far from our minds. For safe candle use:o Don't |
| If your boiler is still not working, you should not | | | | surround candles by foliage or decorationso |
| attempt to repair the boiler in any way yourself | | | | Always use a stable holder and don't stick a |
| and should call out an engineer registered as a | | | | candle to a saucer with hot waxo Don't place |
| competent person by Gas Safe Register. | | | | candles on carpets or other flammable surfaceso |
| Lighting Fires | | | | Keep lit candles away from pets, children, hair and |
| You can't see it or smell it but some 50* people | | | | clotheso Never leave candles unattended or |
| die every year due to carbon monoxide (CO) | | | | burning while you are out of the room and never |
| poisoning and many more are made ill by | | | | forget to extinguish them before going to bed |
| exposure to it. | | | | Bed Time Checks |
| Statistics show that one in five households with a | | | | By carrying out the following checks before you |
| chimney in use have not had it swept in the last | | | | go to bed, you can greatly reduce the chance of |
| year and eight percent have never had it swept | | | | a fire starting while you are asleep and enjoying |
| at all.* A check of all your gas appliances and | | | | sweet dreams. |