Zavarovalnica Triglav dd : Making your home a safer place this holiday season

In winter time, a number of hazards lie in wait for us at home - ones we don't think about until it's too late. These include holiday decorations catching fire, chimney fires and burglaries. Families have to ensure that they make their necessary safety preparations in good time if the holidays are to pass off peacefully and without endangering life and property.

According to figures from Zavarovalnica Triglav, the holiday month of December presents more fire dangers than other months. 'Last December we recorded 72% more fires in apartment buildings than the monthly average. In 2014 that figure was 83%,' explains Boris Kuhelj, head of the regional claims centre at Zavarovalnica Triglav.

Popular decorations such as advent wreaths, Christmas trees and lights all help to create a happy holiday atmosphere. At the same time, however, they are among the biggest causes of fires at home. 'Greenery and pine branches ignite at 250 degrees Celsius, and a candle burns at around 800 degrees,' explains fire safety expert Dr Aleš Jug, pointing out the dangers of natural advent wreaths with candles.

Artificial greenery is no less hazardous. According to Dr Jug, this is made up of flammable plastic that melts when alight and creates large amounts of smoke. 'This means that they can set light to mats, tables or other items on which the wreath has been placed more quickly,' adds Dr Jug, who is chair of the prevention committee of the Fire-Fighting Association of Slovenia.

Exercising caution and choosing high-quality materials are crucial

As with advent wreaths, natural Christmas trees also generally present a greater fire hazard than artificial ones. Whatever type of tree you choose, you should choose your lights carefully. 'Lights are statistically the most common source of ignition of Christmas trees. Cheap products with thin electrical leads are particularly dangerous. They tend to overheat if the lights are left on for longer periods,' explains Dr Jug.

A few things have to be considered if you want your holidays to pass off safely. According to Dr Jug, families should place their wreaths and Christmas trees at least one metre away from potential sources of ignition, including ovens, stoves, lights and electrical radiators - and they should never be placed by the only exit from a room or anywhere where they might be knocked over. Wreaths should be placed on a non-combustible base, with battery-powered lights being safer than candles. With wreaths and trees alike, they should only be illuminated with adults present.

But despite your best efforts, things do catch fire. In such cases, a fire extinguisher should always be available to tackle an initial fire caused by Christmas decorations.

Other dangers lurk at home during the holidays

Alongside carelessness when cooking, which according to Boris Kuhelj is the most common cause of household fires, chimney fires are among the main causes of fire in the cold winter months. According to figures from the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, 24% of all fires in buildings in 2016 were caused by the ignition of soot, sparks and the inadequate technical condition of chimneys. 'The colder it is, the more people turn the heating up. This means that heating appliances are made to work harder, increasing their temperature as well as that of the surroundings. Soot in the chimney can therefore catch fire more quickly and, thanks to overheating, can start burning inflammable objects close to chimneys and ovens,' explains Boris Kuhelj.

According to figures from Zavarovalnica Triglav, as with fires, the number of burglaries increases during the holiday season. Last December there were 45% more burglaries than the monthly average. January was not far behind, when there was a 53% increase in burglary claims. Being extra careful, for example by installing burglar-proof doors and fitting security blinds on windows can deter burglars, who target homes at this time of the year because many people are away.

A further cause of damage to property and a ruined holiday is a lack of care when handling fireworks and disposing of hot ash, which can set fire to the content of rubbish bins.

By recognising the most common holiday or winter-time hazards to home and family, and observing a few simple rules to prevent these hazards from becoming a reality, the holidays can pass off without any unpleasant complications. It is up to each individual and each family to make sure this happens.

Useful links:

Advent wreaths can also be dangerous-More on the dangers of Christmas decorations and on how to guard against them.

Infographics:What dangers lurk in your home during the holidays? - Further interesting information on the various dangers, in addition to those presented by Christmas decorations, that are present at home during the holiday season.

In-depth story of fires - Further useful tips on how to prevent fires at home - and what to do during and after a fire.