Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

Electrical Safety.

Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.

Remember – one plug per socket. If you need more plugs than there are sockets, use a bar-type fuse adaptor.

Unplug appliances at night or when you are not using them to reduce the risk of fire – unless they are designed to be left on all the time (for example, a fridge or freezer).

Hot plugs or sockets, scorch marks, fuses that often blow, or flickering lights – they are all signs of loose wiring or other electrical problems.

· Badly wired plugs – any coloured wires sticking out could come loose and debris could also get into the plug.

· Overloaded sockets – plugging too many electrical appliances into one socket can lead to overheating.

Check here to see if your sockets are overloaded. · For more safety information visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

The risks with cables and leads include:

Make sure the outer covering of all power leads is in good condition and replace if necessary if frayed or damaged.

They should not be anywhere that they could be tripped over, or near water, cookers, or other sources of heat.

They should never be run under rugs or carpets where they can wear through without anyone noticing – position them elsewhere.

Appliances – you should never:

Get them wet – this includes plugs and sockets, e.g. don’t put a vase of flowers on top of the TV.

Put anything in the microwave that is made of metal, or has a metallic finish or parts.

Our advice is to never use tumble dryers and washing machines overnight; there is a risk of fire if these appliances develop a fault and if this happens when people are sleeping, the risk to life is far greater.

Chargers – our recommendations:

Make sure you follow instructions for all electrical devices and that you use the correct chargers in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. If the wrong charger is used for an electrical device, the internal battery can’t handle a different voltage and it can catch fire.

Do not use a charger if you have to force it into the wall socket, and don’t use it on an extension lead.

Always buy from an approved retailer or direct from the manufacturer of the same name as the device.

Particular fire risks are phones left charging on soft furnishings and covering a phone while it’s charging.

If your blanket or any part of the wiring shows any of these danger signs, have it checked or replaced:-

If you are in any doubt about the condition of your blanket, bin it and buy a new one.

Replace your electric blanket at least every 10 years.
Test your electric blanket every two years
Don’t buy a secondhand blanket
Look for the British or European standard and make sure it has a safety certification mark.
Make sure the blanket has an overheat protection.

Use your electric blanket safely:

Always follow the instructions
Never use an electric underblanket as an electric over-blanket, and vice versa
Visually check for wear and damage before fitting to a bed.
Tie electric underblankets to the bed or mattress – this stops them slipping and creasing, which could damage them
Only leave a blanket switched on all night if it has thermostatic controls for safe all-night use. Otherwise switch it off and disconnect it before you get into bed
Don’t get blankets wet, and if your blanket does get wet, do not use it. Never switch it on to dry it.
Store blankets in a dry place, leaving them flat or rolled loosely to avoid damage to the wires. Do not store beneath other items.
Never consume liquids or use hot water bottles in a bed fitted with an electric blanket.