Staying safe this Autumn
Whether you're trick-or-treating, decorating your home or enjoying a firework display, here are our top tips for keeping safe this autumn!
Halloween
- Reflective strips or glow sticks can be used to light up costumes and make them more visible in the dark.
- Instead of a mask that covers a child's face, try face paint.
- Trick-or-treat in well-lit, known neighbourhoods. Children should always go with a responsible adult.
- Real flames in pumpkins can be a fire risk – switch to battery-powered lights!
- Check costume labels for a UKCA or CE mark – these labels don’t mean a costume won’t catch fire, but that it’s been tested for fire safety so it should burn more slowly, giving you more time to act.
Bonfire Night
This time of year, there are lots of firework displays taking place for the whole family to enjoy! Keep an eye on your area’s social media pages and your local council’s website. We recommend attending an official display, as these are generally safer than using fireworks at home.
If you’re thinking of using fireworks at home, please only use them in your own private garden, and before buying, make sure you’ve got enough space to set them off safely. The firework box will tell you what category it is, how much space it needs around it to be set off safely, and how far people should stand back.
Fireworks can be fun, but they can also be really stressful for pets, those with PTSD and others nearby, so please be thoughtful and considerate of your neighbours and community.
If you're celebrating at home:
- Only buy fireworks that have a CE mark.
- Keep fireworks well away from houses, sheds and trees.
- Follow the instructions carefully and only light one at a time.
- Have a bucket of water nearby, just in case.
- Never go back to a firework once it's been lit.
- Always supervise children around fireworks and keep pets indoors.
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
- Never give sparklers to a child under five.
Please do not have a bonfire in your garden. They can easily get out of hand and spread quickly to hedges, overhanging trees and even to nearby homes.
Find lots more tips about Bonfire Night safety from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service here.
Candles
- Put candles, incense sticks and oil burners out when you leave the room.
- Keep candles in heat-resistant holders placed on a stable surface.
- Never put candles close to anything that can catch fire, such as curtains, paper, furniture or clothes.
- Close nearby windows to prevent curtains from being blown over candles.
- Always keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children and pets.
Lithium Batteries
Devices like e-scooters, laptops and mobile phones often use lithium batteries, which can cause fires if damaged or overcharged.
- Don’t charge devices overnight or while you're out.
- Place them on a hard, flat surface while charging – not on beds or sofas.
- If a device gets very hot, smells strange or looks swollen, stop using it and seek advice.
- Make sure to buy your e-bike or e-scooter (and the batteries and charger) from a reputable seller.
- Never block escape routes with your e-bike or e-scooter, and avoid charging batteries by your front door or any other escape route.
- Never modify or tamper with the batteries.
Regularly test your fire and smoke alarms
We’ll visit your home every year to test your smoke alarm (and carbon monoxide alarms where installed), but it’s really important to test your alarm regularly to make sure it’s working.
If it’s working correctly, the alarm will sound for 10 to 20 seconds, then stop.
It’s also a good idea, if you can, to dust the alarm once a month to make sure to wipe away any cobwebs or dust that might stop it from working properly.
If you think your fire detector is broken or it starts to 'beep' (this means the backup battery needs replacing), you should contact us.
More advice on ways you can help prevent a fire in your home. London Fire Brigade also offer a free, mobile-friendly Home Fire Safety Checker.
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The Customer Building Safety Group are a group of customers who volunteer their time to help us understand how we can improve communication and involve customers in making sure their homes are safe. Their input helps to shape the way we work and keeps your voice at the centre of what we do.