Stay safe this festive season

MANY people give their home a magical makeover for Christmas — but safety should be paramount.

There can be a bewildering array of cables hidden behind the TV, not to mention chargers for mobile phones and tablets.

The PC also has its own array of plugs and there may be a couple of lamps too.

At Christmas you can add fairy lights to the mix, while there may be an open fire or a glowing stove blazing away too.

So be mindful of these crucial tips from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

They want Santa to visit you — not a squad of firefighters! FAIRY LIGHTS

Unplug fairy lights or other electrical Christmas decorations when you leave the house or go to bed.

Bulbs can get very hot so don’t let them touch materials that can scorch or burn easily such as paper or fabrics.

Check fairy lights are in good working order and replace any bulbs that have blown.

Make sure the fuse in the plug is the correct rating.

If you need to plug more than one appliance into an electrical socket, use a multi-socket adaptor which is fitted with a fuse and has surge protection. DECORATIONS

Decorations made of light tissue paper or cardboard burn easily.

Don’t attach them to lights or heaters.

Don’t put them immediately above or around the fireplace.

Keep them away from candles.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.

Always buy your tree from a reputable retailer to ensure the freshness and quality.

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.

The trunk should be sticky to the touch.

Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground.

If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out and is a potential fire hazard.

Don’t place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace, heat vent or candles.

The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.

Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ash near a tree.

A good rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks and keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

After Christmas, the best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling centre or having it taken away by a community pickup service.