With Halloween right around the corner, kids are getting more and more excited to dress up, go trick or treating, attend costume parties and all of the other fun that comes with this time of year. However, along with the good times come more than a few safety hazards, like an increased risk of fires. We’re a commercial maintenance service near the Twin Cities, and we have families of our own, so we thought we would share a few tips on how to stay safe this Halloween.
- Instead of using candles to light up your Jack O’Lanterns, use a battery-operated candle or glow stick. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 800 house fires are caused by candles each Halloween, resulting in more than $4 million in direct property damage.
- Dried flowers and corn husks, paper ghosts and other Halloween decorations are a big fire hazard, so be mindful of where you place them. Make sure you keep them away from open fires, candles, light bulbs, heaters and anything else that could cause these materials to ignite.
- When purchasing costumes for yourself and your children, look at the materials they are made out of. Make sure to get flame-retardant costumes, and make sure any masks that are to be worn have large enough holes in the eyes so you and your children can clearly see where you are going. Make sure the nose holes are large enough that you and your children can easily breathe as well. If possible, use face paint or make-up instead of masks.
- Keep an eye on your children at all times too. Make sure they know all of the safety rules when it comes to fire hazards and staying safe during Halloween. Definitely keep an eye on their costumes to ensure they do not accidentally go near any open flames.
- Make sure all of your fire extinguishers and fire alarms are in good working order. If you haven’t checked or changed your fire alarm batteries in awhile, now is a good time to do so. Also, keep all exits clear so you and your loved ones can quickly evacuate in case the worst happens and a fire breaks out.
We hope you find these tips useful and that you have a safe, happy and fun Halloween!
For more information on our commercial maintenance services near the Twin Cities, call Building Maintenance Management at 763-541-4886 or Contact Us.
