Halloween Safety Tips

The State Fire Marshal wants to make sure you have a "sweet" trick or treat this year.

According to a recent report from the National Fire Protection Association, decorations like you see at Christmas and Halloween are typically the first items to ignite when a home catches fire. Because of this, you're reminded to choose flame resistant or flame-retardant decorations and costumes.

Here are some other tips to make sure your Halloween is frightfully fun, without becoming a real life horror story.

Buy only costumes, wigs, and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. If you are making your own costumes, chose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. Avoid using billowing or long trailing features. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so that they can easily see out.

Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume.

Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.

It is safest to use a flashlight or battery operated candles in the jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candle are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns use only long fireplace style matched or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn including trick or treaters, doorsteps, walkways, and yards.

Remember to keep exists clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.

Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire.

If your children are going to Halloween parties at others' homes, have them look for exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.  

Also, keep your eyes on the exits while at Ohio's haunted houses. They're supposed to disorient and scare you, but Interim State Fire Marshal Donald C. Cooper reminds us to make sure you always know where the exit is in case of an emergency.