Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Village Magazine

Take Charge and Be Safe this festive season

As the festive season approaches and people look for presents and take advantage of Black Friday deals, many are looking to save money on electrical items. However, we continue to urge people to Take Charge and Be Safe when buying devices, especially items that require batteries or chargers.

You can help keep yourself and your family safe by following a few simple safety measures, including ensuring to buy electrical items from reputable dealers, being awake and at home when using and charging devices and adding safety to your bedtime routine.

Electrical devices are a key part of everyday life and are often bought in Black Friday deals and as presents for family members and friends. Games consoles with controllers, tablets, laptops and e-bikes and e-scooters are on lots of people’s present list. All these items require charging as they contain lithium-ion batteries.

Most devices come with failsafe features to ensure they do not overheat when being charged, but rely on the manufacturers' provided charging cables and adapters to work. Also, using the plug and cables supplied with the product rather than cheaper versions will help charge devices safely.

The Service is reminding people to Take Charge and Be Safe, not only when charging their devices, but also when planning on purchasing devices and presents. Most new items come with a suitable battery and charger, however if you are looking to purchase additional ones then make sure they are the right voltage and are fully compatible. Other things like charging a mobile phone while you are awake and alert, rather than while sleeping, means the device won’t be overcharged and risk overheating the battery. This can be the same for any device.

We are encouraging people to plan a good bedtime routine including things like making sure electrical sockets are switched off, all internal doors are closed, any candles are out, heating appliances are off and hallways and stairs are kept clear of obstructions. This will not only help prevent a fire from happening but also ensure an easy escape if one does.

Disposing of batteries safely

Batteries can be a fire hazard if they are not disposed of properly. They should never be put in household rubbish or recycling bins.

During the processing of waste or recycling, a battery can be compacted and damaged, which can lead to ignition of the highly reactive lithium, leading to a fire starting.

Any kind of battery can cause a fire if not disposed of correctly and safely. This includes vapes or other e-cigarettes as well as standard batteries.

Fires involving batteries cause damage to refuse vehicles and roads, as well as significant delays to bin collections and road closures.

How to dispose of batteries
There are many places to safely dispose of batteries. As well as local recycling centres, many shops around the county have collection bins in-store.

To find your nearest battery collection bin, visit either https://www.recyclenow.com or https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to check where your closest location is.

Help keep your home and family fire safe – complete our online home safety check

You can carry out your own home fire safety check online by visiting the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

The online home safety check helps you carry out your own fire risk assessment and is a simple way to help reduce risks and keep your home safe from fire. It takes you through some simple questions about you and your home, then provides an action plan that you can download and print. You can fill it in for yourself or a member of your family that might need help.

Visit https://bit.ly/Home_Safety_Check to find out more and start your online home safety check.