It’s that time of year again, Halloween! As fun as Halloween is for children it also poses a risk when it comes to fire safety.  We have put together some safety tips to make sure you have a safe but spooky and fun, Halloween.

Children’s costumes are one of the greatest risks for injury at Halloween. Bad quality clothing can ignite in seconds, and it is important to look at the label when buying outfits for little ones. A CE mark will ensure the clothing meets safety standards and a quick check for safety instructions and warnings can make all the difference.

In case of an emergency, teach little ones the ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’ response if their clothing catches alight. This is a way to extinguish the flames and also stop them from rising towards the face. This method is: 1. Stop where you are, don’t run, 2. Drop to the floor and lie flat and finally 3. Cover your face with your hands and roll side to side until the flames are extinguished.

Costumes aren’t the only hazard.  Candles are also one of the greatest causes of house fires, and all the more so at Halloween. The most effective way of avoiding this is by swapping traditional wax candles for flameless, battery-operated ones. However, if flameless candles are not available or you want to continue using wax candles, we would advise you to place them in heat-resistant holders on a steady table or shelf, ensure they are away from any other material that may catch fire, and keep them out of reach of pets and children. Most importantly, be sure to extinguish the candles before leaving the room.

There is also a higher risk of arson at Halloween.  Fire brigades usually step-up warnings of potential arson as this is more likely during this period, a time when vandalism is also rife. Rubbish heaps abandoned cars and derelict buildings can all be used to start deliberate fires and every year the number of fires peak with Brigades sometimes seeing around 90 percent of their fire calls at Halloween coming as a result of such fires. One way of preventing them is by ensuring there is no fuel for arsonists to burn, by lessening fly-tipping and making sure the authorities are notified about derelict buildings and cars that could be used for deliberate fires.

We hope you have a safe and spooky Halloween!

The Firechief range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers for your home and leisure time.  For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.

The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader’s risk.