MSP Jackie Baillie picked up some key safety tips from Electrical Safety First at the recent Scottish Labour Conference.

Electricity causes more than 3600 fires in Scottish homes and electrical products are by far the biggest cause of house fires.

Research by the charity, Electrical Safety First, has found that three in four children have a potential fire hazard in their room.

Ms Baillie visited the charity’s stand at the recent Scottish Labour Conference in Perth to get some advice on how to spot the risks.

Among those highlighted were the hazardous locations for charging gadgets – such as leaving a tablet on the pillow, or laptop on a bed – where the heat produced by the devices can lead to fire.

The charity also stressed the dangers of other fire risks, such as an overloaded block adaptor or a fake phone charger.

Ms Baillie said: “Electrical Safety First’s research found that children have, on average, 10 electrical items in their bedrooms, ranging from fairy lights to laptops – almost 25% more than their parents’ generation had in their rooms when growing up.

“It also discovered that over a quarter of all children have used or purchased a cheap, unbranded charger. These increase the chance of a fire, as counterfeits often omit key elements that can affect both the safety and functionality of the device.

“But it’s not just the kids who use a cheap, unbranded charger – the charity also found that 41% of parents admitted to using one too. So the whole family needs to understand the dangers of electricity. It is estimated that, where a person has been hospitalised due to an electrical fire, the cost to the Scottish taxpayer is £13 million each year. The personal devastation, however, is incalculable.”

Electrical Safety First’s top tips for keeping the modern family safe include:

Always charge an electrical device on a hard surface – and not on flammable material such as bedding. And avoid charging electrical devices overnight, when you won’t notice them overheating.

Don’t drape clothes or towels over these items as they can block vents and cause overheating

Avoid fake chargers – they can cause serious electric shock, injury or fire.

Do check sockets, plugs and cables regularly, for signs of damage or scorching

Don’t overload sockets – you can check using the Charity’s calculator here – or go to

www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/overloading-sockets/

Wayne Mackay, of Electrical Safety First, said: “We offer a range of tools and guides to help keep people safe in their own homes. And ensuring MSPs can help their constituents understand the need for electrical safety – and the importance of using a properly registered electrician - is a key part of our work. We are also lobbying the Government for a commitment to reduce the number of fires in Scottish homes by 10%, which is particularly important given the number of counterfeit electrical items in the Scottish market.”