Every year Kent Fire and Rescue Service responds to more than 20 candle fires in the home. Be candle smart and protect yourself, your family and your home by following these top tips:

• candles should be fitted in a candle holder, placed on a non-flammable surface.
• they should not be left unattended when burning, especially with young children or pets in the house.
• make sure candles aren't burning close to curtains, bedding, clothing or even plants which might catch fire.
• be sure not place burning candles on window sills or on the floor.
• extinguish all candles before going to bed.
• burning candles shouldn't be placed anywhere where they might be knocked over or caught in a draught.
• buy ceramic containers that are well ventilated, containers will get very hot and may make the flame larger and cause it to flare up.
• be sure not allow anything to fall into the molten wax as this can form a secondary wick.
• it is best not to move candles when they are alight or while the wax is molten.
• remember to buy a smoke alarm and test it regularly.

Candle safety for people with dementia

• Try to remove candles, oil burners etc. and replace with simple ‘push lights’ or torches.
• battery-operated push lights can be bought from most big supermarkets and hardware shops and can be stuck onto most surfaces 

If candles are used: 

• ensure they are placed in a suitable container that will prevent the candle from falling over
• always use a container wider than the candle so that any wax spillage will be contained
• if large candles are used ensure any delicate wax shell that forms around the top of the candle is regularly trimmed to about half a centimetre above the wick. This will eliminate the risk of the shell collapsing and flowing onto anything flammable nearby
• ensure candles are kept away from curtains, draughts and open windows, and not on book shelves etc
• they should be used on a firm, even surface well away from anything flammable
• they should not be left unattended and should always be extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed

Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see, smell or taste. If you breathe enough of it, it can cause permanent heart, lung, or brain damage or even kill!

What is it?

Carbon monoxide can be given off by any appliance which burns a fossil fuel such as gas, coal or oil. It can enter your room if your appliance is faulty, or if the room is not properly ventilated, or the chimney or flue is blocked.

To make sure your appliances are safe, have them properly installed and regularly maintained.

Gas appliances must be serviced by engineers who are members of the Gas Safe Register.

Danger signs

Signs pointing to incomplete burning are:

• gas flames that burn orange or yellow instead of blue
• stains, soot or discolouring around a fire or water heater
• an unusual smell when the appliance is on
• solid fuel appliances that burn slowly or go out

How to protect yourself, your family and your home

• have your appliances regularly serviced by a qualified, Gas Safe Registered engineer
• make sure your home is properly ventilated - never block vents
• make sure all chimneys and flues are regularly swept and kept clear
• if you are buying a carbon monoxide detector make sure you buy it from a reputable outlet, such as a DIY store.

Carbon monoxide detectors

Ideally, you should put a carbon monoxide detector in or near every room with a heating or cooking appliance. They can be battery operated or mains powered by plugging direct into a mains socket.

The effects of exposure to carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is absorbed into the bloodstream 250 times quicker than normal air.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are similar to a cold or flu and can include the following:

• headaches
• sleepiness
• nausea/vomiting
• short-term memory loss
• chronic fatigue or exhaustion
• shortness of breath and chest pain
• depression or anxiety
• palpitations
• disorientation
• unconsciousness

Sudden, acute exposure is a form of suffocation. It can start with headaches and weakness, dizziness and breathlessness at low levels. This may then be followed by drowsiness, collapse and coma, and eventual death. People who recover from CO poisoning may have long term problems, including difficulties with concentration and memory.

A simple blood test can find out whether someone is suffering from CO exposure. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected get the victim into fresh air quickly.

• make sure you have enough smoke alarms in your home. For more information please see our Smoke Alarms page
• there are specialist alarms available for those with a hearing impairment, which include a bright flashing strobe light by the bedside and a vibrating pad under the pillow to alert people to danger at night when they do not have their hearing aids in. 

IMPORTANT: A person with dementia may not be aware of what the sound of an alarm means or they may be frightened by the noise it makes and become confused.

Consider installing a telecare system:

• this is a smoke alarm provided by a telecare provider, which is linked through a lifeline service.
• it means that when the alarm sounds due to fire or smoke, the signal goes straight through to the telecare provider, who will then alert the emergency services.
• this helps to reduce the risk for the person if they are unable to react to an alarm.
• other types of alarm can also be run through this system, such as Carbon Monoxide detectors. 
• IMPORTANT:  Ensure there are adequate Carbon Monoxide alarms throughout the home if there are gas appliances, open fires or a wood burning stove. 

We all use electricity and electrical equipment on a regular basis, which is why it’s important to use electricity safely. 

Plugs and sockets 

We all have plugs and sockets in our home, but did you know overloaded sockets can cause fires? Be socket safe by remembering to: 

• turn electrical items off at the plug when you’re not using them 
• only use one plug per socket  
• make sure all plugs are correctly wired and the wires securely contained within the plug. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask a qualified electrician.  
• If you use chargers for phones, gadgets and e-cigarettes, it’s important to use them safely – see our Using chargers section below 

Using chargers

If you use a charger it’s important to make sure you use it safely to avoid the risk of it overheating, or of fire.  

Please remember to:  

• always make sure you use the original charger that came with your device or tool 
• if you have to use an alternative charger, ensure it has come from a reputable supplier 
• never leave items that are charging unsupervised, or overnight 
• always charge items in a well-ventilated area and left uncovered to prevent risk of overheating. If you have children or teenagers remember to make sure they do not charge their phones in beds or under pillows. 
• disconnect devices from the charger as soon as they are charged  
• avoid leaving items on charge until you need to use them 
• before using chargers check them for damage, including the lead and plug.  If a charger is damaged, do not use it.  

Find cables and plugs confusing? help take the confusion out of which plug is for which appliance by labelling plugs with the name of the appliance they connect to - for example ‘TV’ or ‘toaster’. This can be especially helpful for members of the family who may get easily confused. 

Remember: plugs or sockets that feel warm, scorch marks, fuses that often blow or flickering lights, may all be indicators of loose or damaged wiring or other electrical problems and should be checked by a qualified electrician.  

Extension leads 

If you use an extension lead in your home (such as a 4-way bar adaptor) to increase the number of appliances you can plug into a wall socket, do remember: 

• although there is space to plug in four appliances, this does not mean it is always safe to do so. We would encourage you to remove the adaptor and plug in the appliance you wish to use if you can. 
• different electrical appliances use different amounts of power. 
• to avoid the risk of overheating and possibly fire, never plug appliances into an extension lead or socket that together use more than 13 amps or 3,000 watts of energy 
• never plug one adaptor into another. This is because adaptors are not designed to be plugged into each other to extend their reach across a room. Sometimes called ‘daisy-chaining’, it creates an increased fire risk, because the electrical current passing through the extension leads will exceed 13 amps! 

Use our handy calculator below to plug in some typical household appliances and see the effect on the load, with useful tips on how to avoid overloading your sockets. 

Socket overload calculator

The Socket Calculator has been brought to you by Electrical Safety First.

For more safety information visit https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

Electrical cables 

• if any of your electrical equipment has frayed or damaged cables, please have them replaced by a qualified electrician. 
• avoid putting electrical appliance cables under carpets, mats or rugs - walking over them wears the protective cable covering until bare wires are exposed, potentially causing a fire. 
• avoid using reel-type extension leads indoors. If you do, unwind the cable to its full length and leave it loosely coiled with plenty of air around it. If left fully wound, the cable may overheat and catch fire. 
• keep electrical appliances away from water, for example do not place a vase of flowers on top of a television, or use an electric fire in a bathroom. 
• switch off as many electrical appliances as possible at night. 
• in the kitchen, avoid trailing cables such as a kettle cable hanging over the side of the counter. 

Electric blankets 

If you use an electric blanket remember to: 

• check your electric blanket for wear and tear and if it is worn please replace as soon as possible 
• make sure the blanket has safety features including automatic switch-off at a certain temperature or after a time limit 
• if a person suffers from incontinence, remove electric blankets from beds and do not use 
• never use a hot water bottle when using an electric blanket 

Use hair straighteners? 

Remember hair straighteners can stay hot for a long time, so please make sure they are not left on bedding or carpets 

Electrical ‘white goods’ 

‘White goods’ is a general term for large household appliances such as fridge freezers, washing machines and dishwashers, many of which are used in kitchens. 

To learn more about using these appliances safely, registering them and checking for manufacturers recalls, please see our Kitchen safety page. If you are eligible for a Kent Fire and Rescue Service free Safe and Well visit our friendly team will be able to help.  

When using white goods: 

• make sure washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers are not used overnight, or left operating unattended 
• remember tumble dryer lint filters must be cleaned weekly and vacuumed out monthly, to reduce the risk of fire 

If an open fire is in use:

• ensure that the chimney is swept regularly and is safe to use
• have it cleaned and inspected at least once a year
• ensure that an adequate ‘spark guard’ is always left in place, even when it would seem the fire has died out. Sparks can unexpectedly shoot out of even a damped down fire and set fire to a rug or carpet
• drying clothes in front of an open fire is a big fire safety risk – avoid this practice
• ensure all wood, coal and other fuels are stored at a safe distance from the fire
• make sure that there is no clutter on or around the fire place
• ensure that chimneys, flues and vents are not blocked and have them checked regularly

If a gas fire is in use: 

• make sure it’s serviced by a Gas Safe engineer at least once a year
• if it becomes apparent that this kind of fire is advertently being left on or not used safely, then consider having the gas supply disconnected and install a safer form of heating
• avoid having ‘exposed element’ heaters in the home
• consider buying oil filled radiators with thermostatic/timer controls. Electric heaters should be placed well away from anything flammable, such as furniture, curtains and seating
• think about fitting a guard
• these heaters should not be left unattended or left on overnight

If an electrical fire or heater is in use: 

• make sure they are serviced regularly
• think about fitting an extra guard
• keep them a safe distance from furniture and curtains 

If there are concerns about using gas or electrical appliances correctly, contact the gas or electrical company.