WIREDGOV

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Scotland is to tackle electrical fires in homes over Christmas with a £3,000 grant from the Electrical Safety Council (ESC).

RoSPA, the UK’s leading accident prevention charity, is one of the successful applicants for the ESC’s Fire Safety Fund, which aims to support a range of fire prevention initiatives in Scottish communities.

Across Central Scotland, RoSPA will be giving out festive tea-towels with important safety messages, along with extension leads, to deter families from overloading sockets with electrical decorations and lights - a common mistake often made at Christmas time.

Home safety officers will also be holding festive safety talks with older people’s groups, giving them simple tips on how to avoid electrical fires and injuries.

According to government statistics, each year more than two thirds of accidental fires in Scottish homes - over 3,500 annually - are caused by electricityi, and Christmas lights can pose a significant risk if they are faulty or not used properly.

Carlene McAvoy, community safety development officer at RoSPA Scotland, said: “We want everyone to have a safe and happy Christmas, but there are many fire hazards in the home and accidents involving electrical festive items can easily happen. People are 50 per cent more likely to die in a house fire over Christmas than at any other time of year.

“This funding will help us spread important messages about electrical safety to families across Scotland - advice like never overloading electrical sockets, making sure fairy lights carry the British Standard BSI Kitemark and unplugging Christmas lights before you go to bed.”

In this latest round of awards, the ESC has provided almost £25,000 to seven Scottish organisations. This brings the total amount of funding provided to Scotland through the Fire Safety Fund, since its launch in 2009, to almost £111,000.

Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC, said: “Our Fire Safety Fund always delivers an innovative range of projects to raise awareness of electrical fires. By funding grass roots organisations in this way, we can ensure our message of electrical safety is reaching communities through the people they trust - their own ‘home grown’ local organisations.”

Groups interested in getting involved and hearing more about the project should contact RoSPA Scotland on 0131 449 9378.  Further details on the Fire Safety Fund and electrical safety at Christmas can be found on ESC’s website at www.esc.org.uk.