Can You Leave LED Candles on All Night?

How to use candles safely. Candles are one of the common causes of home fires. More than 200 home fires last year involved candles… Even though candles give off a warm glow, they still need to be handled with care.

Did you know that flameless LED candles are a safer alternative to real candles or tea lights?

Benefits of flameless candles

Sometimes called LED, battery powered or electric candles - flameless candles offer many advantages:

You can leave them unattended

You don’t have to worry about pets or children knocking it over

If you doze off while lighting a flameless candle, that's not a problem

You can use them outdoors

You can buy flash, rechargeable, color and waterproof versions

How to use candles and incense safely

Never leave candles, incense and oil burners unattended - this includes "diya lamps" which are often used in worship and religious festivals.

Make sure to turn them off when you leave the room, especially before going to bed.

Place them in a heat-resistant rack placed on a stable surface.

Do not place them anywhere where they may catch fire, such as curtains, papers, furniture, and clothing.

To avoid accidents, keep candles and all open flames (including matches and lighters) out of the reach of children and pets.

Tea lights can get very hot, and without a suitable stand, they can melt plastic surfaces such as TVs or bathtubs.

Be extra careful when celebrating

Diwali, Bonfire Night, Halloween and Christmas can see us lighting candles, dressing up and displaying lots of decorations - increasing the risk of fire. Make sure all decorations are kept away from open flames.

If you are celebrating in fancy dress, be sure to check that the costume complies with the European standard EN71-2 for flame retardancy. Unfortunately, a lot of children's clothing is classified as toys. This means they don't have to be manufactured to the same safety standards as regular clothing and carry a greater risk of fire.

What should I do if my clothes catch fire?

If something happens to a candle and your clothes catch fire, don't run around. Try to remember "stop, drop, roll" - this means:

Stop - don't run around, you'll make the fire worse

Fall - immediately lie on the ground

Rolling – makes it harder for flames to spread.