The best way to teach children about fire safety is by example. Let your children see you being sensible and careful about cooking, candles, smoking and other potential fire risks.

You will want to make sure children are always safe. This includes teaching them how to prevent a fire and what to do if there is one. You will probably need to talk about fire safety more than once, to make sure they have remembered and understood what you have taught them.

Read more about how teaching your children simple rules will help protect them against fire, the instructions you need to give to your children and the measures you can take in your home to make sure your children stay out of harm's way. Click here to read more - Fire safety advice for parents and child carers

Over 50% of all fires in the home are caused by cooking accidents. 

However, there are important precautions you can take to keep you, your family and those things most precious to you safe, when busy in the kitchen:

• Always take extra care with hot oil 
• Avoid leaving children alone in the kitchen when cooking
• Make sure you keep matches and saucepan handles out of children's reach to keep them safe

Other common fires in the home can be prevented by following these steps:

• Make sure that candles are in secure holders and never leave them unattended
• Do not overload electrical sockets
• Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and disposed of carefully and NEVER smoke in bed