Halloween Safety Tips: How to Avoid a Horror at Home
From trick-or-treaters to fans of pumpkin-spice lattes and scary movies, Halloween is a fun time of year. It’s also a hugely busy period for the emergency services, who deal with incidents caused by fireworks, bonfires, and burglaries.
RedClick has helped many customers deal with accidents and emergencies throughout the year, from dangerous fires, burglaries and floods. But with Halloween just around the corner it’s important to ensure you stay extra vigilant to avoid any unexpected incidents. To help you enjoy the Halloween celebrations, we’ve put together five practical safety tips to keep your home and loved ones safe.
1. Leave the fireworks to the professionals
Have you heard the familiar “whoosh” of fireworks yet? If not, it’ll probably happen soon, as fireworks are a big part of Halloween celebrations in October. However, it’s important to know that fireworks can be very dangerous to people and property, sending around 20 people to hospital every year.
According to Irish law, only Category 1 fireworks can be bought and used by the general public. These include party poppers, ground spinners, and some sparklers. Everything else (including bangers) can only be used by professional operators in organised displays — not the general public in private homes or gardens. The penalties are severe, with fines of up to €10,000 and even imprisonment for up to five years.
The safest solution? Check out your local listings for licensed events where you can sit back and watch the sky light up at night, while leaving the hard work and responsibility to the experts.
2. Take special care with naked flames
A naked flickering flame in a freshly carved pumpkin is a beautiful sight, but it does come with inherent risks. Even a single tealight can turn into a serious fire in seconds, which is why it’s vital to install and maintain proper smoke detectors throughout your home.
If you’re planning to decorate your home for Halloween, Dublin Fire Brigade recommends that you:
- Choose battery-operated LED candles instead of real candles as a safer alternative
- Hang decorations away from heat sources and naked flames e.g. radiators and candles
- Avoid overloading sockets, and unplug decorations at night or when unattended
If you, your children, or any visitors will be dressing up in Halloween costumes, it’s especially important that you take care to keep them away from live flames. Many costumes are made of flimsy, flammable materials that can catch fire in an instant, leaving the wearer with serious burns or worse.
3. Approach bonfires with caution
Last year, Dublin Fire Brigade published a live interactive map which showed the nature of the 250 fire-related calls they received on the 31st October. The majority of these related to bonfires, while traditional, they are illegal and can be especially hazardous when unsafe materials like petrol, batteries, tyres, aerosols are used as fuel.
If you encounter a bonfire Limerick City and County Council recommends that you maintain a safe distance, the fumes can be toxic, the wind can carry sparks long distances and items can explode causing serious injuries.
4. Secure your home while trick-or-treating
There’s always lots to do at this time of year, whether you’re trick-or-treating with little ones, going to a haunted house event, or attending a fancy dress party. That means that a lot of houses are left unattended, which increases the risk of burglary.
According to An Garda Síochána, 45% of burglaries occur between 5pm and 11pm, and during the winter months, this window narrows, with 36% of all burglaries taking place between 5pm and 9pm.
Make sure you don’t come home to a horror scene this Halloween by taking a few extra precautions:
- Leave lights on or set timers so they come on automatically, giving the impression someone is home
- Double check all windows, doors, and locks and that they are closed and secured
- Avoid posting your plans on social media, until your back home
- Avoid leaving valuables on display
- Store spare keys securely inside your home
If you don’t already have one, consider installing a high-quality alarm system to your home. Not only does it offer you enhanced security, but it may also reduce the cost of your home insurance policy.
5. Take care of vulnerable residents and our four-legged friends
Halloween is usually a lot of fun, but all those loud noises and unexpected visitors can make life harder for vulnerable people and pets.
Check in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours, who may be afraid to go outside while bangers are going off and bonfires are burning. Consider offering a helping hand, whether it's to pick them up some groceries and medications or making sure their home is secure.
Animals sometimes find fireworks so distressing; they may try to escape or injure themselves accidentally. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) recommends keeping pets securely indoors as much as possible during the Halloween period and walking them during daylight hours to avoid the worst of the disruption.
By following these five simple tips, you can make sure you enjoy Halloween with total peace of mind. Small changes like; choosing battery-powered candles and locking up your home properly, can help prevent accidents, protect your home, and keep the night enjoyable for everyone.
If the unexpected does happen, the right home insurance policy can make things a lot easier. Review your cover now to make sure you’re fully protected. If you’re ready to switch or start a new policy, get an online quote now and save!
Stay safe this Halloween season and enjoy the celebrations with confidence. 🎃
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