How To Keep Safe This Halloween

• Avoid the use of naked flames
• Educate your children on fire safety
• Be cautious of costume choice
• Ensure emergency exits remain unobstructed
• Keep the outside of your home clean
  • We're here to help

Halloween is a time to celebrate all things spooky, with activities such as trick-or-treating and carving Jack-o-lanterns being amongst the most popular.

The London Fire Brigade reported 530 calls received on 31st October 2021, so although it is a time of great fun, you must take precautions to stay safe during this period.

Continue reading for some top tips on how you can enjoy Halloween safely this year.

Avoid the use of naked flames

In the creation of Jack-o-lanterns, candles are a central feature. However, naked flames create a fire risk that can be avoided with the use of alternatives light sources.

You could purchase LED or electric candles instead of using real flames, as these will be much safer for your children to use. Naked flames can cause a wide range of risks, including burns from exposure, and damage to the structure of the building. 

The use of LED candles can be useful for conducting outdoor events safely, as there is always a likelihood that candles can be kicked over accidentally when people walk by.

If you experience any fire damage in this period, get in touch with our team today. In emergencies they can be with you in an hour, assessing the damage and working to restore the premises to a safe state.

Educate your children on fire safety

It is important to educate your children on the importance of fire safety, such as how to react in the event of a fire and to always know where emergency exits are located. 

Having the knowledge to act safely in a fire can be life saving. Teaching your child the STOP, DROP and ROLL method is a popular for teaching fire safety, helping them understand what to do if an item of clothing catches fire Have a look at this infographic provided by the National Fire Protection Agency, which can be used as a great visual aid.

You could always look into fun interactive fire safety sessions as well, and maybe get other parents involved to encourage the learning of these life saving skills.

Other important fire safety tips include where to find fire extinguishers within your home and what your fire safety evacuation plan is.

Be cautious of costume choice

Many costumes used for Halloween are made of flowing materials, which can often be fire risk. Limit the length of the costume to a safe length to avoid the costume setting on fire.

Additionally, you should be careful when selecting the costume itself, because often the materials used to make costumes can be highly flammable.

Many retailers nowadays have safe alternatives to hazardous clothing, which are a much safer option for your children. Some will have also been tested for fire safety, so be sure to have a look for this on the label.

Also, it is important to be cautious with giving children masks to wear. Their visibility can be severely reduced with the use of masks, so either make sure they can see clearly out of them, or opt to use make up instead to finish off the costume.

Ensure emergency exits remain unobstructed

In the course of Halloween celebrations, people like to deck their houses out with decorations. If you're thinking of hosting a party, make sure that they do not obstruct any exits.

Although spooky-themed decorations are aesthetically pleasing, they are not worth the fire risk they create. The sight of them on doors and other exits makes emergency exists harder to identify and utilise.

Also, check the safety of equipment within your home. For example, all smoke alarms should be working correctly throughout your home, as well as carbon monoxide alarms. 

Always bear in mind your fire safety evacuation plan during Halloween events too, and be sure to have safety equipment in accessible locations should you need it.

If you want to know more about preparing an evacuation plan, have a look at this information provided by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Keep the outside of your home clean

During Halloween, trick-or-treating is one of the most popular activities, with the average home getting many visitors at this time. 

To keep everyone safe, there are a few measures you can take. For instance, sweep away any debris or fallen leaves in your garden, as this reduces trip hazards.

Also, making sure the area is well-lit will help people see their way easy and prevent accidents from happening. You could invest in motion-sensored lights that activate when people approach the building, helping keep visitors safe.

Other steps to take could be to make sure any banisters you have going up to the house are in working order, as well as making sure you give your children a torch or glow stick when out trick-or-treating, to make their presence visible to those in the surrounding vicinity.

We're here to help

Our friendly support team can be contacted on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk if you wish to find out more about our fire damage cleaning services.

Not only this, but we offer fire smoke odour removal services if you find that stubborn smoke smells are remaining in your property following a fire. Click here to find out more.