Halloween safety for costumes, candles and candy

From 2017 to 2019, an average of 9,200 fires a year were reported to fire departments over the three days around Halloween, causing about 25 deaths and 100 injuries a year. Cooking was the leading cause of the residential ones, at 49%.

Costumes and makeup

• Check the label for flame resistantFor a homemade costume, flame-resistant fabrics include polyester and nylon.
• Make it easy to seeBright, reflective costumes, or strips of reflective tape, make the wearer more visible.
• Keep the hem off the groundA costume long enough to step on is a tripping hazard.
• Wear makeup and a hat instead of a maskA mask can block the wearer's vision.
• Test the makeup 24 to 48 hours aheadPut a little on the arm of the person who'll wear it. A rash, redness or swelling there is a sign of a possible allergy.
• Check the colors in the makeupSome color additives are approved only for certain uses. Skip any color not approved for its use, especially around the eyes.
• Skip decorative contact lenses without an eye examColored lenses worn without a fitting and instructions from an eye care professional can cause serious eye infections and permanent vision loss.

Candles

• Keep candles 12 inches from anything that burnsThat includes costumes.
• Use stable holdersPut candles where they can't be knocked over easily.
• Blow them out when you leaveDo it before leaving the room or the house, and before going to bed.

Treats

• Feed the children before they go outGive them a snack or light meal first, so they aren't tempted to snack on treats before they get home.
• Look over everything at home firstThrow out anything with an unusual appearance or color, tiny pinholes or torn wrappers.
• Only commercially wrapped treatsTell children not to accept or eat anything that isn't.
• Check labels for a child with a food allergyDon't let that child eat home-baked treats.
• Take out choking hazards for very young childrenThese include gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys.

A party at home

• Serve pasteurized juice and ciderUnpasteurized juice and cider can carry harmful bacteria such as Salmonella.
• Rinse apples before bobbingRinse them under cool running water and scrub off surface dirt with a produce brush.
• Keep perishable food cold until it's servedDon't leave it out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
• Leave the raw cookie dough and cake batter aloneRaw eggs and unbaked flour aren't safe to taste.