Follow our simple home safety tips to help you enjoy your Christmas celebrations.
Festive decorations and lights brighten up the season, but make sure you take precautions for electrical and fire safety.
Be particularly careful with candles - they are special and need extra care.
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Decorations have to comply with standards to make them less likely to burst into flames, but they are not fire-proof. So be careful where you put them and what they are in contact with.
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Candles are very attractive but can easily set fire to other material items, such as table cloths and curtains. Never leave candles unattended or put them on a Christmas tree.
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Do not leave Christmas lights on when you are out or in bed
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Do not overload plugs and sockets with too many appliances or cables.
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Check that the insulation on your Christmas decorations has not perished since last year.
The 12 Days of Christmas Fire Safety
If you have invited lots of people for a party or have guests staying overnight, be extra careful with precautions for celebrating safely.
Check the house before going to bed, and tell your guests about what to do if there was a fire.
For more advice see The 12 Days of Christmas Fire Safety, with a free leaflet to download from the government's fire safety website.
Child Safety at Christmas
Christmas is a joyous time for children, but is your home safe for them to enjoy?
There are often more choking hazards at Christmas - for example cracker gifts, tree decorations, presents from other people, nuts and batteries for toys or other presents, especially button ones.
Toys must be safe by law but how they are used and the age of the child are important factors in preventing accidents. Many accidents involving toys occur when people trip over them and when babies play with toys intended for older children.
To avoid trips and falls, tidy up toys and Christmas wrapping paper, and ensure that the wires from Christmas lights cannot be tripped over.
Mistletoe and holly are poisonous. If you do not want plastic foliage, hang greenery well out of the reach of children and beware of berries falling onto the floor.
There is more advice on seasonal safety on the Raising Kids website.
Have a safe and merry Christmas!
