Halloween Fire Safety

As we’ve come to learn, no holiday would be complete without reviewing fire safety tips beforehand to ensure that your festivities do not result in fire-related injuries or damage to your home. Though the fireworks have long been put away, there are still serious fire safety concerns at Halloween to be aware of before you lead the kids out to trick-or-treat. Because no matter how realistic you’re aiming to make your Halloween decorations, large flames engulfing the corn stalks on your front porch are probably not part of your plan. Read the bullet points below for some Halloween fire safety tips from the NFPA:

1. Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns.

2. When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see out.

3. Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.

4. Make sure children are watched at all times when any candles are lit.

5. Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.

6. Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.

7. Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms are working.

8. If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would get out in an emergency.

In addition to these fire safety tips, here are some more general tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to help keep you and your family safe on Halloween as well:

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.

2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.

3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

6. Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.