With Halloween and other Fall festivities here, it’s time to carve pumpkins, pick out the best costumes, and have some fun with our friends and families. Trick-Or-Treating and Halloween parties are a tradition in many communities, and we want to be sure we are all staying safe during the fun.
Unfortunately, this time of year is also known for an increase in fires. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that in the three days around Halloween from 2014 to 2016, an estimated 10,100 fires were reported. Not only did these fires cause damage, but they also caused injuries and death. Let’s do our part to keep our families safe this year!
While you’re getting the kids ready to go trick-or-treating, take a moment to read the top three fire safety practices you need to know.
Choose costumes with care
Your child wants the coolest costume, but don’t compromise their safety for unsafe materials or design. Avoid costumes with long trailing fabric or materials that might easily catch on fire. Wear clothes underneath the costume as an extra layer of protection between the costume and skin in case it catches on fire. Two ways to tell if a costume is safe are to avoid baggy costumes or ones that don’t fit, as well as checking the labels of the costume and accessories, like wigs or capes, to see if they are fire-resistant. You’ll see the CE mark if it meets safety standards. If your child has a mask, make sure they can easily see and breathe in it.
Decorate for safety
Have a fun and safe party this Fall by going electric! Use battery-operated candles in jack-o-lanterns to lower the chance of a fire. Keep decorations away from open flames and other sources of heat like lights and heaters. Many decorations are made of paper or other materials that catch fire easily, like cornstalks and dried flowers. By keeping these and other flammable decorations away from heat sources, you can prevent a fire in your home and outdoors. It’s also important to make sure decorations do not block exits and to check that all of your smoke alarms are working.
Have a fire safety chat with your kids
One of the best ways to keep your children safe is to teach them the importance of fire safety. Demonstrate how to stop, drop, and roll in case your child’s costume or clothes catch fire. Teach them to avoid jack-o-lanterns and other open flames. Explain the importance of not playing with candles or fires and what to do if a fire does start.
Fall is the perfect time of year to dress up with your friends, have a blast at a Halloween party or potluck, and sneak a little candy from your kid’s stash. Let’s not let a fire ruin the fun. Take a few minutes today to check costume tags, move decorations to a safe place, and chat with your kids about fire safety.