DID YOU KNOW?
It is a well-established fact that the Hallowe’en season sees a spike in the use of open-flame decorations, such as candles, torches, and lanterns. An open flame presents a serious fire hazard, and can swiftly ignite combustible materials. Every year carelessly used open-flame decorations fuel a rising number of fires throughout Canada, resulting in significant property damage, injuries, and tragic, preventable deaths.
CHOOSE SAFER ALTERNATIVES FOR LIGHTING:
- Light up your Hallowe’en with battery-operated candles, flashlights, or glow sticks! They’re a safe alternative to traditional candles for your carved pumpkins and festive decorations.
- In a power outage, do not use candles; rely on flashlights with fresh batteries. Place them strategically in your bedrooms, kitchen, and garage etc.
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:
While candles are perfect for setting a mood, they are also a serious fire hazard if not used carefully. Should you choose to purchase and utilize candles, please observe the following fire safety tips:
- Place candles in a solid, sturdy holder, in a location where they can’t be knocked over.
- Place a glass shade or hurricane chimney over candles.
- Keep lit candles away from children and pets.
- Keep lit candles away from anything that can burn; don’t place lit candles near windows where blinds or curtains may close or blow over them.
- Never leave lit candles unattended; stay in the room where candles are being used.
- WHEN YOU GO OUT, BLOW OUT! Always blow out candles before leaving the room.
- Ensure candles are not used in any bedrooms; never allow older children to use lit candles in their bedrooms; a forgotten candle or incident is all it takes to start a fire!
- Keep candles, matches, and lighters out of reach of children; never leave children or pets alone in a room with lit candles.
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.
