Halloween Safety

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Using flashlights instead of candles or torch lights to decorate walkways and yards is highly effective in creating a festive atmosphere and much safer for trick-or-treaters.

Decorations

When planning party decorations, bear in mind that dried flowers and cornstalks

are highly flammable. Keep crepe paper and other decorations well away from all heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters, etc. Decorating with candles should be avoided. Pumpkins can safely be illuminated with small, inexpensive flashlights. When decorating, remember to keep all exits clear.

Halloween can be a fun celebration, but children should be closely supervised and their costumes made with fire safety in mind.

Parents should purchase only those costumes, wigs and props labeled as flame resistant or retardant. When creating a costume, plan carefully to ensure that it won't easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Costumes should be made without billowing or long trailing features that present a higher risk of ignition. Avoid highly flammable fabrics and accessories.

Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume instead of candles.

Instruct children to stay away from open flames or other heat sources. Be sure each child knows the

technique in the event their clothing catches fire.

Stop immediately, drop to the ground covering your face with your hands and roll over and over to extinguish the flames.

Decorations for special events, most often involving candles, account for an annual average of 800 home fires, causing nearly $4 million in direct property damage, according to NFPA. Additionally, in the United States, more than 100 people die each year as a result of their clothing igniting.