Stay Safe This Halloween: Fire Safety Tips from the Newton Fire Department

As Halloween approaches, the Newton Fire Department urges everyone to prioritize safety during this fun and spooky time of year. Here are some essential Halloween fire safety tips to keep your little monsters safe while enjoying the festivities. Don't forget to check the weather forecast and ensure your children are appropriately dressed for the conditions.

• When choosing a costume, avoid long trailing fabric. If your child wears a mask, ensure the eye holes are large enough for them to see clearly.
• Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks for lighting as part of their costumes.
• Keep dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper decorations away from open flames and heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-o-lanterns. If you use real candles, exercise extreme caution. Always supervise children when lighting candles and lighting them with long matches or a utility lighter. Place lit pumpkins away from anything flammable and out of the way of trick-or-treaters.
• Keep exits clear of decorations to ensure escape routes remain unobstructed.
• Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are operational.

Remember, adult supervision is crucial during all Halloween activities.

• Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles.
• They should also know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire-practice this with them to reinforce the steps: stop immediately, fall to the ground, cover their face with their hands, and roll over to extinguish the flames.
• If your children attend Halloween parties at others' homes, encourage them to identify exits and plan how to escape in an emergency.

Remember, decorations are often the first items to ignite. Roughly 800 home fires are reported each year, one-third of which were started by candles. Being aware of these potential risks and prioritizing safety will ensure that everyone enjoys a fun and memorable Halloween!