Halloween Safety

Published on October 31, 2024

Happy Halloween! The Culver City Fire Department wants you to keep a few safety tips in mind to ensure a fun time for all.

Costumes

• Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
• Masks can obstruct vision—consider using make-up instead.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.
• Provide children with glow sticks or flashlights to help them to see, and to be seen by drivers.

Trick-or-Treating

• Young children should always be with an adult.
• Trick-or-treat in groups.
• Remind children to cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again before crossing. Walk; do not run across the street.
• Only approach houses that have a porch light on or outside lights on.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.
• Closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it. If in doubt, throw it out.

Decorations

• Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks in jack-o-lanterns.   
• When using electrical lighting to decorate your home, make sure it is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
• If you are welcoming trick-or-treaters, make sure there is a clear path to your door and your porch light is on.
• Make sure all smoke alarms in your home are working.

Driving

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.