安全欢度新年
February 8th is Chinese New Year, it is year of the Monkey. It is an important Asian festival celebrated traditionally from the eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.
Laura Kavanagh-Jones from Prevention said ‘We encourage anyone celebrating this festival to enjoy the festivities safely, the kitchen is where most fires start’.
Telford Chinese Arts and Culture Centre celebrated with an open day on Saturday followed by an awards evening where we participated with the children receiving certificates and a prize for their poster entry on fire safety.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service have some advice on how to celebrate safely: More than half of all the fires we attend start in the kitchen, so if you are planning a meal with family and friends on New Year’s Eve follow these tips:
Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil.
Never leave cooking unattended.
Never put food in a pan if the oil begins to smoke. Turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch fire.
Never wear loose clothing near to cooking materials, as it could catch fire causing severe burns, or it could get caught on something and pull it over.
Keep tea towels well away from cooking appliances, as they could catch fire.
Clean hobs regularly to prevent a build-up of fat which can catch fire.
If you plan to see in the Chinese New Year with fireworks, check out our safety advice on our website.
If you plan to light candles as part of your Chinese New Year celebrations, make sure you follow our tips to prevent the risk of fire:
Tealights and nightlights should be placed in a suitable holder as they can melt through plastic materials.
Never leave a candle burning unattended.
Keep candles away from furnishings and clothing.
Keep candles and matches or lighters out of the reach of children.
Always put votive and scented candles in a glass or metal holder as they liquefy to release their fragrance
If you require any fire safety advice please visit our website www.shropshirefire.gov.uk or contact us for a home fire safety visit on 01743 260260.
