Ramadan is a very important annual event in the Islamic faith and many thousands of people across Lancashire take part. Everyone at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service wishes you a very happy Ramadan and encourages you to follow a few helpful safety tips.
Held during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan marks a time of fasting for Muslims all over the world. People who observe Ramadan abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk, only eating one meal before sunrise (Suhoor) and another after sunset (Iftar).
Through fasting, Ramadhan is a time of prayer, community, and reflection. It also commemorates Muhammad’s first revelation and is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
At Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, we want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Ramadhan. That’s why we’ve put together a few top tips on how you can protect yourself and your loved ones at this special time!
Keep reading to see our top tips and advice on how you can stay safe.
Cooking is an important activity during Ramadan and normally takes place very early or late in the day. This can mean that it’s easy to lose concentration or attention while cooking.
Since cooking fires are the biggest cause of accidental dwelling fires in the county, it is especially important to cook carefully during Ramadan each year.
Another consideration is loosely-fitted clothing. This kind of attire is worn by many Muslims and has been known to present a hazard around naked flames and gas hobs.
When cooking, please consider wearing tighter clothing or at least carefully drawing back fabrics well away from any heat sources.
Here are a few key things you can do to stay safe:
Loose clothing – as we mentioned earlier, loose-fitting garments can catch fire and cause significant injuries or even fatalities. Be extra careful when cooking in loose clothing.
Karai dishes – avoid filling any karai dishes higher than 1/3 with oil. Be extra vigilant when cooking with hot oil. If it starts to smoke, don’t add food. Instead, turn off the gas and allow it to cool on its own.
Oversized pots – these can be handy when cooking for larger groups, but can cause a build-up of deadly carbon monoxide gas. Be mindful of cooking using oversized pots.
More information about cooking safety is available on our dedicated web page here.
Smoke alarms are always vital when it comes to fire safety. They are the best line of defence to protect you and those you love from harm due to accidental fire. Make sure you have one on each level of your home and test them regularly to make sure they are working. Batteries don’t last forever!
You can find additional information about smoke alarms here.
Road safety is always a major concern in Lancashire and this is no different during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, the festival that follows the fast. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate some key road safety messages.
In recent years, there has been an increasing trend amongst young Asian drivers in hiring high-performance vehicles. This combination of inexperienced drivers and powerful cars has resulted in serious injuries and deaths from road collisions in the past.
Please think twice before hiring high-performance vehicles for inexperienced drivers to use. If you are planning to hire a vehicle, be mindful of engines that may be much more powerful than those you are accustomed to.
As always, please continue to:
Follow all speed limits.
Respect road laws, including wearing your seatbelt.
Follow the Highway Code.
We want to wish all members of the Lancashire Muslim community well during this very important time, but also to stress the need to remain vigilant of fire risks in the home. This is particularly significant during cooking and mealtimes. Sadly, we have previously seen instances where avoidable incidents have caused serious injuries and even a fatality.
If you are interested in learning more about how you and your family can stay safe during Ramadan, please get in touch with us today.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service wishes you and your family well. We hope you have a safe and happy Ramadan, taking into consideration the safety and wellbeing of both yourself and your loved ones.
For more advice, please see the British Islamic Medical Association website (opens in a new window).
You might also be interested in the other pages in the Celebrations section of our website.
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