Candle Safety
Remember: A candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite any combustible nearby.
• Use candles only with constant adult supervision.
• Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles well away from items that can catch fire, such as clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees and flammable decorations etc.
• Make sure candles are placed in sturdy holders that will not tip over and place on a secure piece of heat-resistant furniture. Candle holders must be non-combustible.
• Do not place lit candles in windows, where blinds or curtains can close over them.
• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
• Do not use candles in places where they can be knocked over by children or pets.
• Keep the immediate area around a candle clear of all items.
Before lighting:
• Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring.
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
• Place the candleholder on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
• Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, and sooting,
• Follow recommended burn times. This will prevent excessive heat build up.
While burning:
• Never touch or move a burning candle. Never move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquefied.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 10% of the wax is left.
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
• Always keep the candle within your sight. If you are going to leave the room, be sure to first blow out all candles.
When extinguishing:
• Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It’s the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might break a glass container.
• Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.
Where young children are present:
• Keep candles up high, out of reach of children.
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
• Keep all matches and lighters up high and out of the sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
During power outages:
• Torches/flashlights and other lights generated by batteries are much safer light sources than candles.
• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle.
• Don’t use a candle to go into confined spaces like a walk-in robe.
• Never use a candle for light when fuelling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.
