Did you know?
Open flames from candles, torches, and lanterns may look festive, but they are a primary cause of Halloween fire hazards. It takes only a second for an open flame to ignite nearby materials. Each year in Canada, careless decorative lighting causes preventable fires that destroy homes, cause injuries and take lives.
Safer alternatives for lighting:
- Swap out real flames for battery-powered candles, flashlights, or glow sticks to keep your Halloween decor safe and bright.
- For safety during a power outage, skip the candles and stick to flashlights with fresh batteries. Place them in key areas like bedrooms, the kitchen, and the garage so they’re easy to reach in the dark.
Lead wick candles are banned:
- Health Canada bans the sale of lead wick candles in Canada.
- Beware of international websites that may not have to follow the same standard; some candles from other countries may have wicks with a metallic core that may contain lead.
- When these wicks burn, they produce lead vapours and dust, which can be harmful, especially for infants/children and pregnant women.
- You can test candles you already own to see whether the wick contains lead by removing the wax from the tip of the wick, separating the fibre strands from the wick to see if there is a metallic core, and rubbing this metal core on a piece of white paper; if it leaves a grey mark on the paper, then the metallic core is probably lead.
Candles can be a serious fire hazard:
Candles create a warm, inviting atmosphere, but an open flame can quickly turn dangerous if left unattended. If you plan to light candles, keep these essential safety tips in mind:
- Keep out of reach: Keep candles, matches, and lighters away from children and pets; never leave them unattended in a room with a lit candle.
- Secure the base: Set candles in a sturdy, stable holder that won’t easily tip over, and consider using a glass hurricane shade or chimney for extra protection.
- Trim the wick: Keep wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch before lighting to prevent high flames, excessive smoke, and uneven burning.
- Clear the area: Keep candles away from flammable materials, as well as windows, fans, and drafts that could blow curtains, blinds, or other objects into the flame.
- Keep bedrooms flame-free: Do not burn candles in bedrooms and never allow children or teens to use lit candles in their rooms.
- Always extinguish: Stay in the room while a candle is burning. When you GO OUT, BLOW IT OUT! Always extinguish candles before stepping away or going to bed.
Tune in next week for the final installment of my Halloween Safety Tidbits Column! I’ll be wrapping up with a last set of essential tips.
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
