The hotter the weather, the easier it is for a fire to start and take hold. Please do not light bonfires in your garden. The flames can easily spread, especially in dry conditions.

If you’re having a barbeque you’ll need to follow the tips below:

You should:

• Place your barbeque on a flat surface and well away from your home, shed, fences, trees and garden waste
  
  
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area
  
  
• Follow the safety instructions on disposable barbeques
  
  
• Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
  
  
• Make sure the barbeque is cool before moving it
  
  
• Never pour petrol, meths or other accelerants on to a barbecue
  
  
• Never leave a barbeque unattended whilst it’s lit
  
  
• Never drink alcohol whilst using a barbeque
  
  
• Never empty hot ashes/coals into bins
  
  
• Never use a barbeque indoors

For more information on fire safety, please visit our website.

There’s nothing more refreshing than going for a dip on a hot summers day but pools can be dangerous especially if you have children. Young children can drown in just 2 inches (6cm) of water!

• Never leave children unattended in a paddling pool even for the shortest time. It takes a moment for them to slip under the water
  
  
• If you need to leave them to get or do something take them with you
  
  
• Check the temperature of the water regularly to make sure it is not too cold or too warm
  
  
• Grass can get wet and slippery around a paddling pool so be careful
  
  
• The inside of the pool is very slippery get children to kneel rather than stand if they’re unsteady on their feet
  
  
• Keep an eye out for bees or wasps floating in the pool. You can use a slotted spoon to take them out
  
  
• Empty the pool when it’s not it use and never leave it overnight. You can pour the water on your plants / lawn

You can find out more about keeping your children safe in the garden on the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s website.

Refuse bins can catch fire. Whether it’s intentionally set by an arsonist or a passer by dropping an cigarette butt in the results can cause a serious risk.

The burning plastic of a wheelie bin produces a lethal cocktail of gasses in the smoke and burns very fiercely. Protect your home and help prevent bin fires in your local area by following these tips:

• Put your wheelie bin out early on the morning on the day of your waste collection day rather than the night before
  
  
• Move your bin from the kerbside as soon as possible after collection
  
  
• Don’t overfill your bin - make sure the lid can close
  
  
• Store your bin away from your house but within the boundary of your home and ideally out of public sight

For more information on reducing waste, please visit our website.