Family Hubs

Halloween can be a fun time of year for children and adults too, but can also be scary and dangerous, so to help keep things fun here are some tips -

• Costume Safety - Remember Halloween costumes can be highly flammable as many fancy dress costumes are not manufactured to the same safety standards as normal clothing, meaning they can ignite almost instantly and burn faster so please make sure these are kept away from naked flames. It will help if you can buy costumes from a reputable shop in the UK as they should meet UK safety standards. You should also teach your children to cover their face and drop and roll on the floor should their costume catch fire as this will help extinguish the flames, and not to run.
• Candle Safety - Candles can light your pumpkins help create a spooky atmosphere but please keep lit candles where children are not able to touch them. Never leave a burning candle unattended or anywhere near Halloween decorations which could catch fire. Always remember to blow them out. A battery powered candle is a good alternative but please check the battery compartment is secured with a screw or similar fastener to prevent children getting access.
• Road Safety - Keep your children visible while out near roads after dusk by wearing something with a fluorescent stripe which can be picked up by headlights. Masks can obscure children seeing clearly around them so please make sure they are careful near roads and supervised. It is recommended that children under 12 are accompanied by an adult and over 12s should agree on a pre-planned route.
• Carving Pumpkins Safety - Creating your pumpkins can be the most fun part of Halloween but sharp knives can be dangerous, maybe consider a no carve pumpkin or let your child design what they want and you carve it for them.

Happy spooky season everyone

From the Fenchurch Family Hub staff

Information gathered with help from Child Accident Prevention Trust