So how safe is your holiday home?

MANY Dubliners are lucky enough to have a holiday home in the countryside, and it’s great to be able to make a dash away from the city for a weekend or a few days midweek.

Staycations are now an important part of the Irish tourism trade. In fact domestic tourists spent over €1.2 billion holidaying at home or visiting friends and family last year.

However, the holiday home is sometimes overlooked when it comes to maintenance and safety and that’s why OFTEC has issued a safety warning to help prevent the dangers of heating appliances ruining a weekend away down the country.

The organisation representing the domestic oil and heating industry is especially reminding holidaymakers of the potentially lethal gas, Carbon Monoxide (CO).

Most of us are aware of its danger in the home but it also poses a risk when camping with faulty gas cookers, appliances, petrol powered generators, staying in a rarely used holiday home and even bringing barbeques inside.

“Everyone deserves to have a nice, relaxing time on their well-earned summer break,” says David Blevings of OFTEC Ireland.

“However, relaxing on your holidays doesn’t mean your attitude to safety issues should relax. We all need to be weary of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide, particularly whilst in your holiday caravan or when camping. The lethal gas can be just as deadly away from the main home and we hope our tips will ensure people have a safe staycation this summer.”

OFTEC recommends the following precautionary tips to protect you and your family when going on staycation this summer:

• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your caravan or holiday home regularly, and if you’re staying in an apartment, you should bring your own alarms with you. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are a legal requirement for caravans.

• Make sure any portable heaters are placed well away from furnishings and gas, electricity or water fittings.

• Test the heating system in your summer home regularly and if it is oil-fired, have it serviced by an OFTEC registered technician annually. This will ensure it is running efficiently and can identify any carbon monoxide leaks.

• Ensure any barbeques are placed well away from your oil tank, gas and electricity points, as well as furniture. Resist any temptation to bring a smouldering barbeque inside as they can still release lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

• Try not to mention your holiday on social media. Opportunistic thieves could use the information to break into your home while you’re away. Ask a friend or neighbour to pop in and help make the house looked ‘lived in’.

• At the end of the summer season, make sure any gas tanks and barbeque fuel are stored properly and empty canisters are returned to a supplier. Don’t forget to unplug any electrical appliances.