Cal Fire has issued a list of Halloween safety tips for children, parents and other residents.
"Halloween is a fun and exciting time of year, but it is also an important time to practice fire and personal safety," Cal Fire officials said in a statement distributed Tuesday Oct. 30.
"The occurrence of fire increases around Halloween due to the use of candles as decorations," the statement said. "According to the National Fire Protection Association, Halloween decorations are the cause of over 1,000 homes fires each year."
Parents and trick-or-treaters are urged to practice a few simple safety precautions:
Costumes
Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or retardant material. Fire resistant does not mean fire proof.
Apply reflective tape to Halloween costumes.
Consider using make-up instead of masks which can obstruct vision.
Avoid loose and baggy sleeves. Stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric.
Keep hemlines short enough to prevent tripping.
Decorations
Light jack-o-lanterns with a battery powered light – NEVER use candles!
Instruct children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
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.
Keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes.
Trick-or-Treating
Children should always go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult.
If driving, be sure to watch for trick-or-treaters who are too busy to watch for you.
Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks to carry for lighting and visibility.
Do not allow children to carry sharp sticks or other objects that could cause injury to others.
Keep your yard free of tripping hazards, such as tools, hoses, etc.
"Remember to closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it, discarding any unwrapped treats," Cal Fire advised. "If in doubt, throw it out!"
Follow Palm Desert Patch on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for the free daily newsletter here.
