Publish date: 20 November 2024
The Infection Prevention and Control Team and Fire Safety Team have produced the following guidelines to keep everyone safe and reduce the risk of transmission or harm this fesitve season.
Trees used in any Mersey Care setting should be artificial. One Christmas tree per ward can be dressed and must be in an area that is away from high footfall, for example, the ward entrance. There should be no fresh or dried plants, flowers, grasses etc. They should never be put in positions where they obstruct or obscure escape routes or escape doors, fire escape signage, firefighting equipment or other safety features. Please do not place Christmas trees, decorations or lights in the means of escape .i.e. doorways, corridors and other escape routes.
Decorations should not be placed in areas undertaking clinical activity such as treatment rooms. Decorations attract and harbour dust, (which contains skin cells, virus and bacteria) so they shouldn’t be kept in place for long periods of time. We would respectfully ask that decorations are not put in place in clinical areas before December. Decorations must not be hung on, or in front of, high touch points, for example door handles. The use of spray-on fake snow is not permitted. Decorations made of paper, cardboard ,cotton wool and snow spray should not be used – they are extremely flammable and can burn easily. Any Christmas decorations should be flame resistant/non-flammable/fire retardant – fire retardant decorations are available from suppliers. The positioning of decorations should not be in close proximity to sources of ignition and must not obstruct or obscure fire escape signage, firefighting equipment or other safety features.
Christmas trees and many decorations cannot be cleaned. In the event of an outbreak or cases of infection illness, such as COVID-19, Flu or Norovirus in an area where Christmas decorations are on display, you may be advised to remove decorations. These decorations must be packed away or disposed of, depending on condition and material, through the appropriate waste stream.Hampers for raffles are acceptable where the items are appropriately packed with a wipeable cover.
Parties and buffets in Mersey Care buildings will be permitted this year for our patients. However, we recommend good food hygiene practices:
- Buffet food either served from the serving hatch pre-plated OR
- Food to be individually wrapped on a buffet table, supervised by staff, hand hygiene strictly adhered to.
Electrical lights and decorations
- Don’t overload electrical circuits or daisy chain extension leads to avoid overheating.
- Unless newly purchased, electrical lighting and electrical decorations should have an in date Electrical Safety Test (PAT) carried out within the last twelve months.
- All electrical lighting and electrical decorations should conform to the relevant British Safety Standard and be marked with the appropriate Kite or CE mark. Lighting should be purchased from reputable sources only.
- Do not place electrical lights or electrical decorations in close proximity to combustible materials
- Switch off and unplug all Christmas lights and decorations at night.
Please also consider other issues such as ligature risks and other safety measures in line with Trust policy. For any further specific advice not detailed above please contact the IPC team on 0151 295 3036 or Fire Safety team by emailing fireteam