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5 Top tips for staying safe on Halloween!

Posted on October 27th 2016

Staying safe on Halloween

 

Halloween has become increasingly popular in recent years, with both adults and children alike getting involved in the festivities.

With darker nights closing in, and a lot more people roaming the streets, here’s our 5 top tips for staying safe on Halloween!

 

 

  1. Stay visible to vehicles

Take a torch out with you so that you can avoid trips or slips on, potentially, dangerous pavement and roads. A torch will also help drivers to identify you in the dark. You should also wear reflective gear so that cars are able to see you as you move around in your spooky, dark clothing!


  1. Make sure you can see

This might seem like an obvious point but you should remove any masks/costumes that might stop you from seeing oncoming traffic, potholes or other debris on the road. Uneven pathways can be more dangerous than you would think, and have caused serious injury to thousands of people – even in broad daylight!


  1. Plan your route!

Plan your route so that you can make your journey as safe as possible. Make sure to avoid poorly lit areas, stick to the pavement, and always keep to places you know well. The safest option is to only visit houses that you know the residents of. Remember, approaching strangers can be dangerous. If you knock on a stranger’s door NEVER enter their home.


  1. Be fire safeA candle to be avoided when staying safe on Halloween

In 2014 Claudia Winkleman’s daughter, Matilda was badly burned after her Halloween costume caught fire. Following the horrific incident, Claudia started a campaign to change the safety laws around Halloween costumes.

When trick or treating in an outfit from a popular superstore, Matilda’s dress brushed against a candle and immediately went up in flames. On an episode of BBC’s ‘Watchdog’ Claudia recalled how the dress seemed impossible to extinguish and burned for a long time. Matilda was left with severe burns. Claudia investigated and found out that Halloween costumes were more flammable than day clothes or nightwear because they are allowed to meet the flammability standards of toys, rather than clothes. Following the programme, many superstores said they would increase the safety standards for their Halloween clothes to make them safer.

Unfortunately, it has been reported by The Mirror that in 2016 Halloween costumes were still highly flammable.  A test conducted by Good Housekeeping found that a witch outfit from T K Maxx was alight within 9.8 seconds, and a Halloween outfit from M & S produced flaming debris. You can read the whole article here.

We would advise all parents to be cautious when buying Halloween costumes. Here are some ideas for staying safe:

  • Limit the amount of ‘Halloween’ clothes your child is wearing. Instead, you could opt to customise everyday clothes which meet the safety standards. Remember, synthetic fibres are less likely to burn, whereas cotton is much more flammable.
  • Avoid trains, capes, and dangling sleeves. These are all more likely to dangle close to a flame.
  • Avoid using open flames if possible. You can buy electric candles from many stores, which still look great in pumpkins!
  • Don’t leave lit candles unattended, or by doors where children might stand.

  1. Drive safe

If you’re planning on driving this Halloween, remember to drive slowly through populated areas, as there is likely to be young children trick-or-treating or adults atteStaying safe on Halloweennding parties. Children can be more likely to unexpectedly cross the road. You should avoid driving through dark cut-throughs where it would be difficult to see a pedestrian who is not wearing hi-vis clothing. Remember to pull out of your driveway slowly so as not to hit anyone unexpectedly walking past.

Whilst this should go without saying, recently Halloween has become a party night for many people in the UK. If you’re attending a Halloween party, remember never to drink and drive, the repercussions of doing so could be devastating for you and innocent pedestrians.

Unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of other drivers who may be more likely to be negligent during this time, so remember to be extra vigilant. If you are involved in an incident, visit this page.


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