Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Keep Halloween safe

Public safety officials offer tips to avoid fires, keep kids safe

• Published: 10/27/2009 10:40:13 AM
• Last Updated: 10/27/2009 11:09:36 AM

In a costume or decoration, people dead or engulfed in flames can be fun for Halloween. But no one wants their holiday fun to end in real-life injury or tragedy. As the holiday approaches, public safety officials throughout the state are urging people to celebrate with caution.
 
“An increase in candle use, combined with decorations, costumes, and children adds up to increased fire risk,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson said in a press release. “Families must keep fire safety in mind when taking part in festivities.”
 
Over the last four Halloween holidays, 125 structure fires in Oregon have caused more than $2 million in property damage and injured a civilian and three firefighters.
 
Child safety is another concern, as kids take to the streets in costume and hit up neighborhood houses for candy.
 
“Child safety is important year-round, but Halloween is an especially important time for parents and children to pay extra attention to their surroundings and not let their guard down,” Nancy McBride, National Safety Director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), said in a press release. “It is important that parents exercise a few basic safety precautions to help ensure that Halloween is both fun and safe.”
 
The Oregon State Police’s Missing Child Clearinghouse (OSP MCC) joined NCMEC in releasing a number of Halloween child safety tips this month:
— Make sure older children trick-or-treat with a group of friends and younger children are accompanied by a trusted adult.
— Accompany young children to the door of every home and should only accept treats from people their parents or guardians are familiar with.
— Teach children to never approach houses that aren’t well lit, never enter a home without permission from their parents/guardians and never approach vehicles without a parent/guardian.
— Make sure children wear reflective clothing and carry glow sticks at dusk or later.
— Make sure children wearing facial masks can see and breathe properly.
— Teach kids to stay alert for suspicious incidents and report them to parents, guardians or other authority figures.
— Teach children how to react if anyone tries to grab them: make a scene; loudly yell that the person is not their father, mother or guardian; and try to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
— Consider organizing or attending parties at home, in schools, or in community centers instead of trick-or-treating.
 
Simpson’s office recommended the following fire safety tips:
— Purchase only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
— Avoid costumes that flow or drag on the ground, as they may more easily contact an open flame.
— Keep flammable decorations – including dried flowers, corn stalks, hay bales and crepe paper – far from open flames and other light or heat sources.
— Consider using flashlights or battery-operated candles, instead of candles or torchlights, to illuminate jack-o-lanterns and yards.
— Place any candles out of the reach of children and pets, and use sturdy metal, glass or ceramic candleholders. Avoid lighting candles with items such as twigs, flowers or leaves embedded in them.
— Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.
— Check decorative lights and through away sets with broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
—Don’t overload extension cords or electrical sockets.
—Maintain smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area, and make sure they are all in working order.
 
Additionally, there are a number of state fire regulations regarding haunted houses. Before hosting one, see the link under Related Documents.
 
OSP MCC offers free ID Complete Child Identification and DNA kits, a proactive method to be prepared in case children go missing. To obtain one, call 800-282-7155 or e-mail child.idkits@state.or.us. Provide your name and address, the number of kits needed, and a phone number when making a request.

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