Halloween is coming again. It always needs to be fun and exciting. You want decorations on your lawn and the top of your house. You’re already planning your costumes and decors for all kinds of events.
Safety is your focus this year. So you’re ensuring that all decorations are securely attached to parts of the roofing, walls, doors or trees. Keeping the family safe from hazards is a big consideration.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that between 2012 and 2016, decorations were the primary source of 800 reported cases of fires in the home. Two civilians died, while 34 were injured on average. The estimated cost of damage to property is around $11 million. What else do you need to focus on? Here are a few tips:
Safety First
Decorations at the top of your house are a good attraction. With lighting, they can be seen from afar and make your house stand out. There’s no competition going on in the neighborhood, but you don’t want to be a pushover either.
You need to make sure that nothing is going to come crumbling down before installing that giant spider or life-sized mummy! Check your shingles and make sure that there are no serious damages. Before you start climbing the ladder, take note of these other safety measures:
Work with someone or at least inform someone. Secure your ladder. Make sure it’s on a flat and stable surface. Did it rain? Don’t do it and postpone the activity.
Wear a safety harness
Let there be light! But you certainly don’t want fire. The NFPA prefers that you use glow stick for your jack-o-lanterns. If you insist on candles, make sure that you exercise extreme caution. Stay away very flammable decorations, like cornstalks, dried flowers, and crepe paper. Also, avoid heat sources, including light bulbs. Speaking of light bulbs, make sure that they are outdoor-rated and can withstand rain or extreme cold.
Go Eco-friendly
Need new ideas on how to approach your Halloween decoration? Go eco-friendly. The science of climate change is indisputable no matter how deniers deny it. This is one way to become a catalyst for change. Here are some pointers that you can follow:
Look for household items that you can use as décor. Turn a worn-out white bedsheet into a ghost. A used white stocking can be turned into stocking spider sacks. Learn to upcycle. Use old mason jars and fill them up with, for example, strips of moss, dried leaves or soil.
It’s still okay to use gourds. Pumpkins used for carving are edible. But after Halloween, most of them are discarded. According to the U.S. Energy Department, pumpkins in landfill contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. But they are investigating to turn them to energy in the future. With these ideas, you might reconsider that trip to Zurcher’s.
In 2018, the National Retail Federation (NRF), reported that Halloween-related expenses reached $9 billion. This provides a boost to the economy, but make sure that you’re looking after the environment while staying safe.
