United Synagogue :
Some Chanukah safety tips for SHUL and IN THE HOME
-
✓ Always take care when lighting Chanukah candles
-
✓ Always place your Chanukia away from curtains, paper, books or other flammable items
-
✓ Always make sure your Chanukia is standing on a firm base
-
✓ Always ensure candles, wicks or oil containers are firmly seated in place
-
✓ Always follow COVID social distancing guidelines and household restrictions for your area/Tier
-
Never leave a Chanukia unattended
-
Never leave young children or pets unsupervised in the same room as a lit Chanukia
-
Never walk around with lighted matches, candles or tapers
Take special care of the suitability and safety of Chanukiot made specifically for arts, crafts and decorative purposes.
Be especially careful if using glass oil holders as these become very hot and may crack and tip over.
If candles or containers fall over, smother the flame immediately with a damp cloth.
Don’t play with Fire!
Have a Happy (& Safe) Chanukah
ADDITIONAL SAFETY POINTS TO CONSIDER
Chanukia Safety
No matter how beautiful your child’s or grandchild’s “arts and Crafts” Chanukia may be, please do not use it. These Chanukiot are not suitable for lighting and may burn down when used.
The Chanukia should be made of non- flammable material only.
Put out candles before you leave the house and before you go to bed.
Keep matches and lighters away from children and out of reach.
Supervise any child that lights a Chanukia. Place their Chanukia close to the child so they don’t have to reach over another Chanukia.
Chanukah – Cooking Safely
When frying, keep children away from the stove. Some people create a “3-foot” safety zone around the stove when the latkes are frying. Others use the further burners so children cannot reach the flames.
Take extra care when deep-fat frying or cooking with oil – hot oil can catch fire easily – use a thermostat controlled deep-fat fryer which will make sure the fat doesn’t get too hot
Don’t get distracted when you are cooking – turn off or turn down the heat if you have to leave the cooking unattended
Keep tea towels, clothes and electrical leads away from the cooker and hob
Make sure saucepan handles are not sticking out from the hob or over a naked flame
Remember to check that the oven or hob are switched off after you have finished cooking
In the event of a fire involving oil, turn off the heat source and smother the flames with a metal lid or baking tray – do not use water to put it out!
If clothing catches fire
In the event that clothing catches fire -remember to STOP, DROP, COVER and ROLL:
Stop where you are. Do not run. Running can make things worse.
Drop to the ground. Lay flat with your legs out straight.
Cover your eyes and mouth with your hands.
Roll over and over and back and forth until the flames are out. Get help straight away.
Then COOL, CALL and COVER:
Cool the burn with running cool tap water for 20 minutes.
Call for help – 999 or Hatzola (0300 999 4999 / 0303 888 9999) for advice.
Cover with cling film while transferring to a hospital/A&E