Hold a candle up to these statistics

Candles are widely used in disaster survival during power outages and with Valentines Day tomorrow we thought this article from Natasha Sabin on candle safety is a necessary reminder.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s time to get our candles out again. But the Kiss nightclub
fiasco in Brazil has got fire safety experts everywhere scared. How often do you actually take the
proper precautions when using potential sources of ignition?

Yes, we can all get a little lax when it comes to fire safety. So before you light a candle on
Valentine’s Day, let’s see what we can learn by looking at some statistics.

1. Candles were the fifth leading cause of reported U.S home fire injuries in 2006 -
2010

It’s easy to forget how hazardous candles are – remember, they can, and do, cause many
fires.

2. 55% of home candle fires start because the candle is too close to flammable
materials

Keep your candles clear of fabric. This includes your clothing, curtains and carpets.
The best way to do this is to place it on a tray or in a firm holder, warmer or jar. Make
sure you position your candle on a hard surface, away from draughts, which could blow
fabric onto the flame.

3. In the U.K, the main causes of candle related injuries are burns from hot wax
(26%) and flames (39%) and lacerations (12%)

Protect your skin from the flames and hot wax by extinguishing the candle with a
snuffer. It’s also a good idea to light the candle using a long-reach lighter.

4. 20% of candle fires begin when candles are left unattended or abandoned

If you want to leave the room, extinguish the flame first. But this doesn’t mean it’s okay
to walk around with a lit candle – if you want to take it to another room, put the flame
out first and wait for the candle to cool.

5. Half of U.S candle fire deaths occur between midnight and 6am

This is hardly surprising, given that people are more likely to be asleep during this time.
If you start to feel drowsy, extinguish the flame – you don’t want to fall asleep with your
candle still lit.

Rules for candle safety

1. Place your candle on a tray, or in a jar, holder or warmer.

2. Make sure your candle (and holder) is positioned on a hard surface, away from draughts

3. Keep all fabric away from the flame

4. Never leave your candle unattended

5. Don’t fall asleep with your candle still lit

6. Extinguish the flame using a snuffer

7. Ignite the flame with a long-reach lighter

8. Never walk with a lit candle

Author bio

Natasha Sabin is an avid blogger from Fire Safety Supplier, a specialist fire protection company.
They’ve let Natasha loose to share new, exciting, and somewhat disturbing developments in the
world of fire. Email [email protected]  or visit http://www.firesafetysupplier.com