No child can resist the lure of Halloween, it seems. And why not? Besides the promise of bags and bags of candy and treats, they get to dress up as their favorite princess, superhero or character. It’s when the whole nation comes together to let their alter egos run free!
But because children get so excited about the holiday, it’s up to us adults to keep them from mistakes and accidents that might happen on Halloween, and in the preparation. From costumes to decorations, there are dangers that can be easily avoided with just a little forethought. All of us at PDR Inland Empire wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween, so we wanted to share some safety tips that will keep both your house and its visitors free from fire-related accidents.
- There’s nothing better on Halloween than a costume with a cape—Superman, Batman and Thor are just a few popular options! But we recommend that you help your kids choose costumes that don’t feature billowing or long, trailing fabric.
- Is there a mask involved? Make sure that the eye holes align correctly with the child’s eyes and that they are large enough to allow them to see out.
- In your home, remember that dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are all highly flammable, and should be kept well away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, heaters and even jack-o-lanterns lit with a candle.
- Speaking of carved pumpkins, we recommend that you use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in your jack-o-lanterns. It also helps your jack-o-lanterns last longer, as the heat from the candle will rot the pumpkin.
- If you do decide to use a candle, do not leave the jack-o-lanterns unattended, especially if children are in the area. Use long matches (4 inches or more) or utility lighters to light the candles, and make sure all jack-o-lanterns are placed well away from anything that can burn, and that includes the costumes of visitors and trick-or-treaters.
- We all love Halloween decorations, especially here in Southern California where we don’t get a lot of rain. But make sure that your decorations—and yes, we do mean that inflatable witch on your front lawn—don’t block any escape routes in case of fire.
- Teach children to stay away from open flames—there’s nothing wrong with them having a healthy fear of fire. Be sure they know the stop, drop and roll drill in case their clothing or costume catches fire, and even have them practice.
Did you know that decorations are the first thing to burn? It’s true, as seen in over 1,000 reported home fires each year. Don’t be one of those thousand homes—use these tips to safeguard your property!
The fire hazard in our area is still high, as we haven’t had enough precipitation to properly soak the dry brush lining our hillsides and valleys. So make sure to keep your eyes out for fires, especially in your neighborhood, and give us a call. We can help you or your neighbors get back into their homes, fully restored to its original state, as quickly as possible.
Have a wonderful and safe Halloween season! We’ll be back next Wednesday with trick-or-treating safety!