As families prepare for what has become an increasingly popular holiday, CAL FIRE would like to remind everyone to take a few simple safety precautions in order to ensure a fun and safe Halloween.
For kids, Halloween is an exciting holiday, but if precautions are not taken, scary things can happen. Candle decorations combined with flowing costumes create an increased risk of fire. Candle fires are one of the leading causes of home fires and occur more frequently on Halloween according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
CAL FIRE urges the public to follow these tips for a safe Halloween:
Trick-or-treating
Children should always go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult
Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks to carry for lighting and visibility
Review how to cross a street with your child. Look left, right, and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing the street.
Remind children to stay together as a group when walking from house to house
Costumes
Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material. Fire resistant does not mean fireproof!
Apply reflective tape to Halloween costumes
Masks can obstruct vision – consider using make-up instead
Avoid loose, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts
Keep hemlines short enough to prevent tripping
Decorations
Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters
Keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes
Remove objects from the yard that could present a tripping hazard (garden tools, hoses, etc.)
Remember to closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it, discarding any unwrapped treats from a stranger. If in doubt, throw it out!