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VIDEO: Top safety tips for celebrating this Halloween

With Halloween coming up soon, many people will be busy this week buying costumes and sorting out decorations in preparation for some seasonal fun.

At Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS), we want everyone across the county to have a happy time this Halloween but we also hope party-goers stay safe.

To illustrate the potential hazards that using real candles pose to costumes, NFRS has prepared a video for use on social media in which we show a Halloween costume catching fire.

NFRS’s key message is that costumes, whether shop bought or handmade, can be flammable.

Avoiding the use of real candles, in favour of artificial candles, could help reduce the risk of clothes catching fire. Alternatively, if using real candles, every care should be taken to keep children well away from naked flames.

District Liaison Officer Tina Collett said: “Halloween is a great time of year to celebrate, but we just want to reinforce some safety points to help people keep safe.

“If someone’s clothes do catch fire, we always give the ‘stop, drop and roll’ advice. People should stop, without running around – this is not always easy to do in a panic-filled situation. They should then drop to the ground, lie flat and roll over until the flames are out.”

In this Halloween safety video, Station Commander Ro Cutler gives some tips for keeping safe at Halloween.

Top tips for Halloween:

  1. Keep clear of all flames such as candles and lit pumpkins, which could cause costumes to catch fire or cause burns.
  2. Be careful how you dress on Halloween. Homemade costumes and some costumes bought in shops can be flammable.
  3. Plan your trick or treat route beforehand. Only go to houses where you or your friends know the residents. Always go in groups.
  4. When trick or treating, children should stay in well-lit areas and should never go without an adult.
  5. If clothing catches fire, remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL. STOP where you are. Do not run. DROP to the ground. Lie down flat. ROLL over and over on the ground until the flames are out.
  6. If using candles, make sure they are out when you leave the room. Never leave children alone with candles.
  7. Do not use real candles in lanterns and pumpkins, use battery operated lights.
  8. Don’t wear masks that restrict your vision, you need to see clearly when crossing roads.

 

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