Halloween Safety Tips

It’s Halloween tomorrow and you’ve prepared costumes, decorations and special treats. But have you considered the accidents that can occur on Halloween? Here’s a list of safety measures you can take to make sure your Halloween celebration stays fun and memorable:

• Don’t place decorations near open flames or other heat sources, such as electric heaters or light bulbs.
• Consider using battery-operated lights instead of candles in jack-o-lanterns. If you use candles, keep the pumpkins away from materials that can easily catch fire or near places where people walk, such as driveways, doorsteps and walkways.
• Kids under the age of 12 should be accompanied by a trusted adult when going out at night. Teens can be allowed to go in groups and trick-or-treat in well-lit areas.
• Be familiar with the route your kids will be taking and make sure they carry a mobile phone. Tell them to check in with you every hour and to come back home at a designated time.
• Any props that a child might carry, such as a pitchfork, knife or scythe, should be flexible and safe enough so as to not to cause an injury.
• If you have a pet and choose to dress him up, make sure that the costume does not constrict the animal’s movement or annoy him in any other way.
• Keep candles, props, wires and cords out of reach of your pets. Make sure jack-o-lanterns with candles can’t be knocked down by dogs or cats.
• Tips to protect your children from vehicles while trick-or-treating:
  • Choose a light colored costume and attach reflective tape or stickers to make them more visible.
  • Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so consider replacing them with face paint or makeup.
  • Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks to see and be seen during night time.
  • Tell them to walk and not run. Before crossing a street, they must use crosswalks whenever possible and look both ways.
  • Adults should pay close attention when driving, and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, especially between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; remind other drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters, too.

For a comprehensive list of fire safety tips for Halloween, visit this page. To learn how to preserve and carve pumpkins safely, follow this link. If you require professional restoration services after experiencing fire, water or mold damage, contact your local PuroClean office.