CELEBRATE the royal wedding safely, urges Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters have issued tips to help residents celebrating the royal wedding make it a day to remember for all the right reasons.
A common sense approach to using barbecues, decorating your home, setting up street parties and getting around will help the big day go with a swing, according to the service.
Deputy chief fire officer Mark Cashin said: “We want everyone to let their hair down next Friday without letting their guard down. It’s all too easy during celebrations to forget a few basic principles to keep ourselves and everyone around us safe.”
The advice is:
Take care when using a barbecue – ensure it’s in good working order and in a safe place away from anything that can catch light or where people are walking past. Only use approved barbecue fuel and never leave it unattended. Pour water on embers to cool them down and empty ash on to bare garden soil, never into a bin.
If you have to move your party indoors don’t put bunting or streamers over smoke detectors or close to light fittings which can get hot. It goes without saying that barbecues are for outdoor use only, but the same rules about never leaving cooking unattended apply to your normal hob or grill.
When putting out tables and chairs for street parties think carefully about how fire engines and other emergency vehicles will get through if they need to and make sure you don’t block access.
If you’re raising a toast to the happy couple and enjoying a few drinks, don’t be tempted to get behind the wheel. Elect a designated driver or get a taxi. There is never an excuse for drink-driving.
For further advice on street parties, visit www.direct.gov.uk. For more on barbecue safety, visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk and click on ‘public safety’ then ‘outdoor safety’.
