Halloween Safety Tips From Culver City Fire Department

From the City of Culver City:

As you prepare for Halloween, the Culver City Fire Department wants you to keep a few safety tips in mind to ensure a fun time for all.

Costumes

• Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
• Masks can obstruct vision—consider using make-up instead.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.
• Provide children with glow sticks or flashlights to help them to see, and to be seen by drivers.

Trick-or-Treating

• Young children should always be with an adult.
• Trick-or-treat in groups.
• Remind children to cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again before crossing. Walk; do not run across the street.
• Only approach houses that have a porch light on or outside lights on.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• Closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it. If in doubt, throw it out.

Decorations

• Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources.
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in jack-o-lanterns.
• If you are welcoming trick-or-treaters, make sure there is a clear path to your door and your porch light is on.

Driving

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.

The Culver City Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

For more Halloween safety tips, please visit the following websites:

• National Fire Protection Association
• Safe Kids Worldwide
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• National Safety Council

This press release was produced by the City of Culver City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.