Tricks, Treats & Safety Make Halloween a Scream!

Thursday October 08, 2020

As Halloween approaches, you should take the time to evaluate the safety of your indoor decorations and elaborate outdoor displays in order to help prevent fires and accidents from happening. The following collection of Halloween safety tips is offered by our electricians in the hopes of helping you keep your family safe this year.

Choose Costumes and Decorations Wisely

Look for decorations, costumes, and accessories that are labeled flame-retardant and/or flame-resistant. Non-combustible materials will keep your family and visitors safe and secure because they are designed to minimize the risk of fire.

Don’t Overload Outlets

Plugging too many electrical decorations into the same outlet can overload it, creating a risk of fire. Make sure that you plug your Halloween inflatables, lights, sound systems, and monsters into several outlets instead of piggybacking them all onto a single extension cord.

Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

In order to prevent electrical shocks from happening, you should plug your outdoor Halloween decorations into ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) rather than ordinary electrical outlets.

Follow Safety Instructions

Most Halloween decorations come with a short list of safety instructions that you should read before you put them up for display. Always turn off your electrically powered Halloween decorations when you are not actively using them, such as when you are going to bed or leaving the home unattended.

Secure All Wires

Whether your Halloween wiring is located on the inside or the outside of your home, you should take the time to secure the wires properly. Tuck them out of the way so that your trick-or-treaters don’t trip over them. Keep all of the wires away from the steps, walkways, and other high-traffic areas of your home.

Check Electrical Wiring to Ensure Its Usability

You should avoid using any electrical decorations that have frayed wiring or loose plugs. If the casing is only slightly damaged and doesn’t expose any bare wires, you can cover it with electrical tape. Otherwise, you should have one of our electricians put on a new plug for you. The best strategy is to properly dispose of severely damaged electrical Halloween decorations to avoid the risk of fire.

Traditional Versus Electrical Candles

Whenever possible, opt for electrical or battery-powered candles instead of traditional ones that have a flame. Electrical candles can be used for indoor and outdoor decorations and lighting.

Almost everyone understands the dangers of traditional candles and the fire hazard that accompanies them. However, it is easy to overlook the inherent dangers of electrical candles. If you intend to use electrical candles to create Halloween displays in your windows, make sure that you use them safely. Don’t put the candles too close to curtains, draperies, and other decorative items.

Only Use Electrical Decorations Marked “For Outdoor Use” Outside of Your Home

Halloween decorations that are suitable for outdoor use are marked in some way to indicate that they can be used on the outside of your home. You should never use any electrical decorations outside unless they are labeled for that purpose.