Avon Fire & Rescue Service is encouraging families across the Bath area to ensure they celebrate Halloween safely this year.
With residents planning to celebrate with parties, pumpkins and trick or treating, the fire service is warning of the potential hazards associated with Halloween.
Meghann Elvin, Children and Young People’s Risk Reduction Manager, said: “We want to make sure you and your family keep safe this Halloween without taking away from all the fun!
“Instead of using candles to decorate your pumpkins and your home, opt for battery powered LED lights, making sure they have appropriate safety markings.
“These are much safer as they reduce the risk of burns and other injuries which can have life-long impacts.
“Make sure everyone in your family knows how to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothing catches alight: stop where you are, drop to the floor and roll over and over until the flames are out. Make sure to practise before the celebrations begin.”
Avon Fire & Rescue has offered the following advice:
Costume Code
- Buy your costume from a trusted retailer.
- Avoid long, trailing costumes.
- Ensure that your costume is flame resistant and labelled with a CE mark.
- If you’re making your own costume, avoid using flammable materials like bin liners.
- Keep costumes away from tea lights, candles and naked flames.
Decorating Disasters
- It is always safer to opt for LED tea lights and candles to light your celebrations and create a spooky atmosphere. Naked flames present many dangers no matter how careful you are.
- If you are using real tea lights and candles, ensure they are securely placed in a correct holder.
- Keep children away from naked flames and don’t let them carry lit candles in a lantern.
- Make sure real candles are extinguished when leaving a room or when you go to bed.
- Keep decorations, curtains and other flammable materials away from naked flames.
Stop, drop and roll!
- If clothing catches fire, remember to…
- STOP where you are. Running around will only make the flames bigger.
- DROP onto the floor lying flat with your legs out straight.
- And ROLL! Keep rolling repeatedly until the flames are out.
Quick thinking and actions when the worst happens could help prevent more serious injuries.
