A Halloween sign in front of a house in Altadena (Photo – Petrea Burchard).
Having fun on Halloween is a goal for kids and adults alike, but simple common sense precautions won’t hurt either.
Prepared by Rena Kurlander
Here are few tips for a spooktacular and safe Halloween:
1- Be careful when using candles
- Halloween is one of the most popular festivities where candles are used, but candles also cause hundreds of house fires and injuries each year along with millions of dollars in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
2- Consider using flashlights or battery-operated candles in Jack o’ Lanterns
- If you do use real candles, keep watch on lit candles at all times. Also keep children away from open flames. Better yet, use battery-operated candles and have a piece of mind.
3- Choose costumes wisely
- Avoid billowing or long trailing fabric that can catch fire or get caught in a door or be tripped over. Make sure masks have eye-holes large enough to see out. Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks as part of their costumes.
4- Be sure children know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing does catch fire
- Make it a fun exercise to practice stopping, dropping & covering your face and rolling to put out the flames.
5- Decorate wisely
- Keep all items away from open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters. Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
6- Adult supervision
- Make sure children go trick-or-treating in a group with at least one responsible adult who has a fully charged cell phone.
- Make sure children know how to safely cross the street by looking left, right and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing.
- Remember, no eating of treats until all is brought home and inspected by an adult! Throw out any suspicious treat or opened candy. Only accept homemade treats from friends, family and neighbors you know and trust.
7- Don’t forget about your animal companions!
- Provide animals with a quiet place indoors. Feed pets early and make sure dogs are walked well before trick-or-treaters hit the streets. Keep your cats inside your home or garage for the night.
8- Celebrate responsibly
- Always designate a driver. Even a limo for the night is cheaper—and far more fun—than being arrested for drunken driving. Having a sober driver is far safer too.
For life-threatening emergencies always call 9-1-1. If you see something suspicious, say something by calling the police department. For more safety information, call the fire department.
Rena Kurlander is a resident of San Gabriel valley.
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