Safe at Home

30/10/2026

🎃 Halloween costume safety from our partners at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service - a little reminder to keep children away from naked flames. Remember LED candles are a safer option BUT remember to check that the button-battery compartment is safe and secure from little ones - ingestion of button batteries can be fatal. Please stay safe and spooky 🎃🖤👻🧡

30/10/2026

Safety Reminder from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service KEEP AWAY from flames as costumes ignite quickly 🔥🔥🔥

30/10/2026

🎃 Don't let your spooky outfit become a fire risk. Before heading out trick-or-treating , remember:
🦇 Choose costumes, wigs and accessories that are labelled as flame-resistant where possible
🦇 Keep children and costumes well away from candles, tea lights and other naked flames
🦇 Make sure masks don't restrict vision, especially when crossing roads after dark
🦇 Consider using battery-operated LED candles instead of real candles BUT remember to check that button batteries are not accessible to young children

Halloween should be all treats and no tricks, so take a few simple steps to help keep everyone safe this spooky season.

Follow our tips this week for a and please share on your socials . . . 🧡🖤🎃

30/10/2026

🎃 Halloween Treats 🎃
What you need to know 👇

🎃 Halloween is here but do your children's treats contain artificial food colours? Some azo dyes can cause hyperactivity. It is best to AVOID ‘the Southampton Six’: Sunset Yellow (E110), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura Red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124). The FSA has advised food producers to withdraw these additives. You can read our 2020 report on food colours here: https://bit.ly/48v7J0X
👻 The Food Standards Agency states that some imported products, particularly from the US, may contain unauthorised additives or lack proper allergen labelling and urge importers of products to ensure they meet UK food safety standards: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/importing-confectionery/importing-confectionery

Best Start in Life Barnardo's Action for Children The Breastfeeding Network (UK) HENRY Institute of Health Visiting Family Action Babyzone Global

30/10/2026

🔥 Burns First Aid ~ Tip #4

Act quickly. Knowing what to do if a burn injury happens can make a big difference to long term treatment.

Remember 3 C's: COOL • CALL • COVER

💧 COOL the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes
📞 CALL for medical advice or emergency help if needed
🫱 COVER with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing
❌ NEVER apply creams, ointments or home remedies - always seek medical advice

🎃 Think Safety. Be one step ahead this Halloween to avoid a scary trip to A&E.

Follow us for Halloween week as we share useful tips to help keep your family safe.

29/10/2026

BOOK NOW
📅 Friday 30 October, 8am-3.30pm
📍 MOT Testing Station, Kingsway Depot, LU4 8AU

📞 Pre-booking is required – call 01582 546839 to book your slot.

Get your car ready for winter! 🚗

FREE checks of your tyres, lights, wipers and screenwash to help you stay safe on the roads this winter ❄️

📅 Friday 30 October, 8am-3.30pm
📍 MOT Testing Station, Kingsway Depot, LU4 8AU

📞 Pre-booking is required – call 01582 546839 to book your slot.

29/10/2026

🎃 LED candles make great alternatives to candles with flames and our friends at Child Accident Prevention Trust are sharing a reminder for families during Halloween and other festive occassions:

⚠ LED Candles and tealights may contain easily accessible button batteries that can badly hurt or kill a child if swallowed.

So, please check the button battery compartments are secure to prevent children from gaining access. If not, keep them well out of reach of young children.

👀 Please check all electronic and novelty items to ensure children cannot gain access to dangerous batteries and have a battery hunt TODAY.

For further Halloween Safety Tips check out the link in the comments 🗨
With thanks to Child Accident Prevention Trust

28/10/2026

🎁 Squishy Toys 🎁

What all parents and caregivers need to know - Click on the link in comments to download FREE guidance.

As a parent or carer, you're probably well aware of squishy toys. Cheap, colourful and providing plenty of sensory pleasure, squishy toys are rapidly growing in popularity among both children and adults.

While they may appear cute and harmless, some cheaper versions do not meet appropriate toy safety standards entering the UK marketplace.

Looking for more information on making safe toy choices?
Read our new blog post here: https://bit.ly/3VVLKy5

28/10/2026

🔥 Halloween Safety reminder as Claudia Winkleman bravely relives and shares what happened to her daughter Matilda when her Witch's costume caught alight during trick or treating a few years ago ... it can and does happen in just seconds!
Please take some simple precautions this Halloween:

✅ Keep away from flames and heat sources 🔥
✅ Use LED tealights rather than candles
✅ Check button batteries are NOT accessible
✅ Buy compliant and safe costumes with CE / UKCA kitemark
✅ Know what to do if someone catches alight - STOP - DROP - ROLL
✅ Burns First Aid COOL - CALL - COVER

🎃 Have fun, stay safe, always be ONE STEP AHEAD when thinking about child safety ...

👀 Click in the link in the comments to view Claudia's story 💬

28/10/2026

🍬 Treats & Toy Safety ~ Tip #3

Not all treats are as sweet as they seem:

✅ Consider choking risks when choosing sweets like lollipops and hard sweets.
✅ Look for safer alternatives for younger children.
✅ Check all toys and novelty items are compliant AND age-appropriate.
👀 When children go out trick or treating - check when you get home that everything in their bag or bucket is safe and suitable for them and SWAP for something safer if it's not.

⚠️ Squishy Toy Warning - many squishy toys have been subject to recalls because they may:
❌ Burst or explode when exposed to heat, causing burns
❌ Contain harmful or toxic substances
❌ Contain water beads which can be life-threatening if swallowed
❌ Contain sharp needles or syringes (not suitable for children)

✅ Always check product safety information and recalls before giving TOYS to children - Just because it's sold doesn't mean it's safe. Novelty items are not TOYS and therefore do not meet toy safety guidelines.

🎃 Think Safety. Be one step ahead this to avoid a scary trip to A&E.

Follow us for Halloween week as we share useful tips to help keep your family safe.