Halloween Decoration Safety

9/16/2022 (Permalink)

Halloween season is rapidly approaching. Many people have already started decorating for Halloween. Dried flowers, crepe paper, cornstalks, and decorative scarecrows may  make your home look festive for fall, but these classic decorations can also pose a scary fire risk. As fun as it is to decorate your home it is important to keep in mind some safety tips to avoid a fire from starting in your home. The National Fire Protection Association says flammable decorations are the first things to ignite in 900 reported home fires each year; two of every five of these incidents start by a candle.

One of the most important things to consider is to keep your decorations away from open flames, lightbulbs, and heaters. This may seem simple but many people forget the risks of doing this and decorate in unsafe places. One of the most common is next to or above fireplaces. It is so easy for a stray ash to end up catching a decoration on fire. Even hanging your decorations near a lightbulb can be dangerous. 

Another way to prevent fire is to check the quality of each item before you plug them in. Examining each set of lights for broken sockets, frayed wires or loose connections, and discard any damaged sets is the first step to take. Many people often try at home fixes such as tape on frayed wires. Any decoration with a frayed wire should be discarded or have a new wire installed if possible. Be careful not to overload sockets when plugging in lights and other electronic decorations. It is such an easy thing to avoid by unplugging objects that you are not using at any given time. 

A big safety tip to keep in mind is to not use open flames such as candles inside your decorations. Consider glow sticks or battery-operated candles instead of real candles when lighting your jack-o’-lanterns or other luminaries. If you do choose to use real candles it is important to light it with a utility lighter. That way you can light it right over the wick and do not have a risk of hitting the side of the decoration with the flame. You also need to be mindful of where you are putting your decorations that have candles in them. Keep lit decorations off of doorsteps, yards, and sidewalks where excited trick-or-treaters may knock them over. Moving them off of your front door step or front walkway is an easy way to avoid injury. 

The last thing to keep in mind is to make sure you do not have any decorations blocking any exits out of your home. If there is an emergency it is important to keep a clear path out. Halloween is a fun time of the year and it is important to have fun while decorating your home. Just make sure you follow these tips to help keep your home safe.