Vaughan Fire offers safety tips for a safe Halloween

Testing your smoke alarms is one safety tip Vaughan Fire advises all residents to do before trick-or-treating

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 26, 2021
Aileen Zangouei

Halloween is only days away, and the only fright you should have on Oct. 31 is from spooky costumes and scary movies -- "not from a fire," said Vaughan Fire and Rescue Services.

Vaughan Fire released tips for trick-or-treating to keep everyone safe while having fun, whether you're staying in or going out.

• Test your smoke alarms to make sure they work. Now is a good time to install new batteries;
• Choose safer alternatives like battery-operated candles, flashlights and glow sticks instead of candles to light up your jack-o'-lanterns and other Halloween decorations. In the case where you must use a candle, do not leave them unattended and well away from children, pets and anything that can burn;
• Purchase Halloween costumes (including wigs and props) labelled flame-resistant or flame-retardant;
• Keep exits clear of decorations to ensure nothing blocks your escape routes in the event of a fire;
• Make sure children know to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothing does catch fire -- stop immediately, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to extinguish flames;
• Extension cords are for temporary use only. Use the right one for the job -- there are special extension cords for outdoor use;
• Never overload electrical outlets with too many plugs.

For additional fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Halloween celebrations can be enjoyed while following public health measures from York Region Public Health, including physical distancing and hand sanitizing.

For more information, visit york.ca.