Hertfordshire Home Safety Service

19/11/2025

30/10/2025

🎃 Spooky Season Safety Reminder! 🔥

As we enjoy the Halloween festivities, let’s not forget to keep our homes safe from fire risks. Whether you're lighting candles in pumpkins or cooking up a storm for trick-or-treaters, here are a few simple tips to keep the fright fun—not fiery:

🕯️ Use battery-operated candles in pumpkins and decorations instead of real flames.
👻 Keep decorations away from heat sources like radiators, candles, and cookers.
🍬 Don’t overload sockets with Halloween lights or gadgets.
🧙‍♀️ Check your smoke alarms—a quick test could save lives.
🏠 Plan your escape route—just in case the unexpected happens.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a free Home Fire Safety Visit, feel free to get in touch. We’re here to help keep your home safe all year round.

Stay safe and have a fang-tastic Halloween! 🎃👻🕸️

This service is only for Hertfordshire schools and residents. Request a school visit or a

28/10/2025

🎃 Tuesday Trivia: Trick-or-Treat Edition! 🍬

Quick quiz for Halloween lovers — how many can you get right?

1️⃣ What sweet treat is a UK Halloween classic?
2️⃣ What’s the most popular costume in Britain?
3️⃣ Which supermarket first sold Halloween goodies in the '80s?
4️⃣ What date is Halloween?
5️⃣ Which ancient festival inspired Halloween?

👇 Drop your answers in the comments — no Googling! 👻

28/10/2025

🎃🔥 Halloween Fire Safety Reminder 🔥🎃
As we get into the spooky spirit, let’s keep safety in mind—especially around candles, costumes, and decorations!
Here are a few quick tips to help keep your Halloween safe and fire-free:
🕯️ Use flameless candles in pumpkins and lanterns instead of real flames.
👻 Choose flame-resistant costumes and avoid long trailing fabric.
🏠 Keep decorations away from heat sources like radiators, candles, and lights.
🚪 Make sure smoke alarms are working—a quick test takes seconds!
🎆 Be extra careful with fireworks or bonfires if you're celebrating outdoors.

Book a free home fire safety visit:

This service is only for Hertfordshire schools and residents. Request a school visit or a

23/10/2025

The nights are drawing in and with colder, darker evenings, the risk of fire in the home can increase. Make sure your family and your home are safe this autumn/winter!

Here are a few quick checks you can do right now:

• Test your smoke alarms: Press the test button to make sure they're working. Do this weekly!

• Check electric blankets & heaters: Make sure they are in good condition, and keep heaters well away from anything that can burn, like curtains or furniture.

• Close doors at night: This simple action can slow the spread of fire and smoke, protecting your escape routes.

• Plan your escape: Ensure everyone in your home knows the escape route and where to meet outside.

For more in-depth advice and to assess your home's risks, you can request a home fire safety check:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/fire-and-rescue/request-a-visit-from-the-fire-service/request-a-visit-to-your-home-or-school.aspx

22/10/2025

🎃🥧 Pumpkin Pie – Halloween is Coming! 🥧🎃

As we count down to Halloween, the Little Library in Bishops Rise has a seasonal treat for you!

Stop by and pick up a free pumpkin pie recipe to take home and try 🍂📖

Whether you're baking for a spooky gathering or just fancy something cosy and delicious, this classic autumn recipe is perfect for the season. Why not grab a book while you're there and enjoy a slice with a good read?

Let’s make this Halloween warm, tasty, and full of community spirit!
Feel free to share your baking pics or let us know how your pie turns out 👩‍🍳📸

08/10/2025

https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/health-and-safety/health-safety-implications-hoarding/

Hoarding - whether it's low level or high level there are still significant risks.

The link above has some very interesting points. Definitely worth a read.

02/10/2025

🍂📚 HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY DAY!

It's Time to Share Your Words! 📚🍂

Today, our Little Free Library is challenging our community to celebrate the power of poetry!

✨ THE CHALLENGE: Leave a Poem! ✨

Here's how to participate:
1. Visit our Little Free Library TODAY!
2. Write a short poem, a favourite line of poetry, or a book-related quote on a card and leave it in our special "Poem Drop Box" at the library.

Can't make it in person? No problem! You can also share your poem directly in the comments below this post!

The most creative, heartfelt, or inspiring entry (from either the physical box or the comments) will win a special prize!

DEADLINE: The competition closes one week from today, on Thursday, October 9th. Make sure to leave your name (and contact info if submitting physically) so we can reach you if you win!

Let's fill our community with beautiful words! We can't wait to read your poetic contributions.

22/09/2025

🍁📚 Celebrating the Autumn Equinox at the Little Library 📚🍁

As summer fades and autumn settles in, we’re embracing the gentle shift — a time of balance, reflection, and cozy comforts.

📖 Explore books that capture the spirit of the season: nature, change, warmth, and introspection.

🧡 Got a favourite autumn read or seasonal tradition? Share it with us — we’d love to hear!

🍵 And yes… there might be a little treat waiting for you when you visit.

🌍 Equinox facts:

* The word equinox comes from Latin: aequus (equal) and nox (night).
* On this day, the sun rises almost exactly in the east and sets almost exactly in the west.
* Many cultures mark this time with festivals of gratitude and harvest — like Japan’s Higan or the Anglo-Pagan Mabon.

Why not welcome the season with a visit to the Little Library? Find something that feels like autumn — warm, thoughtful, or a little mysterious. 🍂

20/09/2025

🎉 It's Shelfie Saturday again! 🎉

Last week was so much fun, we're ready for round two! 📚✨

Whether it's your favorite bookshelf at home, a stack of books you're currently reading, or even a peek at what you're sharing in our Little Library, we want to see it!

1. Snap a pic of your "shelfie" (your books, your shelves, your reading nook!).
2. Share it in the comments below!
3. Don't forget to tell us what you're loving about your current reads!

Let's inspire each other and celebrate the joy of reading together. Can't wait to see your shelfies! Happy reading! 📖💖

19/09/2025

🌟 THANK YOU, NEIGHBOURS! WHAT A WEEK! 🌟

We’re absolutely bursting with gratitude for our amazing community and another fantastic week at our little pink Little Library! 📚💕

📖 A huge thank you to everyone who generously donated books this week — your contributions keep our shelves fresh and full of wonderful stories for all to enjoy.

🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ To everyone who stopped by, visited, and borrowed a book – we love seeing you engage with our little literary hub. We hope you're enjoying your new reads!

↩️ And a special shout-out to those who returned books this week — you help keep the cycle of reading going strong for everyone.

💖 Our Little Library thrives because of YOU. Let’s keep the magic of reading alive, together.