Pesach
Pesach is a time for special food, songs and customs. Follow our safety advice to help you have a joyful and safe holiday. Chag Sameach.
Smoke and heat alarms
- Fit a smoke alarm on every level of your home and a heat alarm in your kitchen.
- Test the batteries in your smoke and heat alarms at least monthly.
Preparing the kitchen for Pesach
- Take great care when using aluminium foil. Foiling a gas hob is extremely hazardous as it limits the burning of the flame and creates dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
- Do not use aluminium foil in a microwave.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector. If the alarm sounds, get out and call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999.
Cooking safety
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Turn off cooking/electrical appliances when they are not being used.
- If using a hot plate (blech), always check the appliance prior to use. Do not use any appliance such as a hot plate or water heater if the cable appears damaged.
- Check the hot plate is clean and away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
- Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
- Don't overload electrical sockets - only use one plug in each socket. If you have to use more than one plug per socket, use a fused adaptor and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps.
In case of fire whilst cooking
Don't panic and don't take risks.
If a pan catches fire:
- Don’t tackle the fire yourself and never throw water over it.
- Turn off the heat – but only if it’s safe to.
- Leave the room and close the door. Remember ‘pikuach nefesh’: get out, stay out, call 999.
Candle safety
- Consider an extra smoke alarm in the rooms where you burn candles.
- Make sure the candle is standing up straight and is firmly fixed in a proper holder, so it can't fall over.
- Always place candles on a heat-resistant surface.
- Keep candles out of draughts and away from fabrics, such as blowing curtains, and other sources of heat or direct sunlight.
- Avoid burning candles close together, as this might cause the flame to flare.
- Never place candles under shelves or other surfaces
- Burn all candles well out of reach of children and pets.
Bedikat chametz
- Keep candles away from bedding, curtains, tablecloths, clothing, or anything that can ignite easily.
- Supervise children, closely, at all times.
- Do not leave candles unattended. Make sure to extinguish them when you are finished.
Burning chametz
- Use a designated outdoor area, clear of combustibles and located well away from any structures.
- Use extreme caution when lighting a fire and never use any type of accelerant (e.g. paraffin or petrol) to increase the flame.
- An adult should constantly attend to fires, never leaving them unattended. Always make sure children are supervised.
- Have a fire extinguisher, or a garden hose connected to a water supply, readily available to extinguish the fire, if necessary.