Winter Safety

Enjoy your Winter safely

Winter can be an exciting time – wrapping up on walks, making your home warm and cosy, visiting friends and family and making the most of comforting home cooking.

We want everyone that lives, works and travels in Essex to enjoy the winter safely. So follow our advice below to keep you and your family safe this winter.

Click here to view our Winter Safety leaflet

To book a Home Fire Safety Visit, go to: essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088

Winter Holidays

Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them regularly
Check any decorations are in good working order and conform to British Standards
Don’t overload electrical sockets and switch off and unplug decorations before you leave the house or go to bed
Don’t attach decorations to lights or heaters
Make sure visitors know what to do in an emergency - there’s lots of extra stuff in your house when people stay and when you have decorations up, so reassess your escape plan and talk them through it
Always keep escape routes clear and try not to create piles of things - this can make fire spread much more quickly
Don’t use fake or cheap chargers or cover batteries when they are charging - never charge batteries overnight or while you are out of the house
Take the time to check on elderly relatives and neighbours, particularly in cold weather
If you are going to use fireworks as part of any celebrations this winter, use them responsibly and be sure to follow the fireworks code

Cooking

More than half of all house fires start in the kitchen. By taking simple precautions, you can help to reduce the risk of a kitchen fire:

Take care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking. Take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk
Avoid leaving children or pets in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob. Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe
Do not cook if you’ve been drinking or are too tired, order a takeaway instead
Take care if you’re wearing loose clothing – this can easily catch fire
Double check the cooker is off when you’ve finished `cooking

Candles

Swap your traditional candles for LED candles or LED lights, you’ll still get that same warm glow but without a fire risk
If you are using candles, never leave them unattended and blow them out every time you need to leave the room
Make sure candles, including tea lights, are secured in a proper holder and are away from materials that may catch fire like curtains
Children and pets should not be left alone with lit candles
Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause flaring

Staying Warm

With the weather getting colder, keeping your home warm is a top priority. Make sure to follow our safety advice to stay warm safely.

Chimneys

Have your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood
Don’t stack fires too high and remember to let them burn down well before you go to bed and close doors at night
Always use a fire or spark guard
Don’t have anything flammable, such as rugs too close to the fire
Inspect your chimney regularly – particularly in the roof space – to make sure sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
Only buy suitable fuels

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas, which you cannot see, taste or smell. If your home has cooking or heating appliances which do not run off electricity (e.g. gas cooker, gas boiler or open fire), a carbon monoxide alarm should be fitted near each one

Annual maintenance can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning so book your service now through a reputable provider

Portable heaters

Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes
Always unplug electric heaters when you go out or go to bed

Electric blankets

Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if the blanket is switched off
Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use
Don’t leave electric blankets folded as this damages the internal wiring. Store them flat or rolled up instead. Inspect your blanket regularly for any damage or wear

Bonfires

Check your Local Authority website to see whether bonfires are allowed in your area
Site the bonfire well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs
Never leave the bonfire burning unattended
Build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse outwards or to one side
Never use flammable liquids – paraffin or petrol – to light the fire
Don’t burn foam-filled furniture, aerosols, tins of paint and bottles
Keep everyone away from the fire – especially children and pets
Pour water on the embers before leaving
Check the bonfire for pets and wildlife before lighting it

Winter driving

Check your car regularly to make sure it’s safe to drive - this includes tyres, oil levels and water
Always prepare for your journey by checking weather updates and road closures before leaving
Never drive while under the influence of drink or drugs or while using a mobile phone
Always wear a seatbelt
Take it slower on the roads in wet and icy weather and leave a larger braking distance between cars
Never drive into flood water
Download the what3words app to help you find, share and save your precise location if you do need help from the emergency services while out and about

Water safety

If you’re heading on a night out near to water, make sure to walk home in pairs and let someone know when you expect to be home
If you do fall into water unexpectedly, lay on your back with your arms and legs stretched out while the effects of cold water shock pass. If you can, swim back to shore but if you begin to struggle, lay on your back again and shout for help
If you see someone in difficulty in the water, do not enter the water yourself to rescue them. Dial 999 immediately