Staying safe for Halloween

by | Oct 29, 2025 | Homepage, Health & wellbeing, Health basics

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Staying safe for Halloween

C4L Editorial Team
C4L Editorial Team

Halloween can be a lot of fun, but it is important to stay safe and respect residents. Read this article, with information from The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, to learn the do’s and don’ts of trick or treating.

Two carved out pumpkins that has been lit up in the dark
Two carved out pumpkins that has been lit up in the dark

Where did the holiday come from?

Halloween descends from Pagan and Celtic religion, as a celebration of the end of the harvest festival and the start of Winter. The name Halloween comes from “All Hallows Eve” the day before All Saints Day and is believed to be the day when the boundary of the living and the dead were blurred, allowing spirits to return to Earth. Trick or treating initially came from locals leaving food outside their properties as a way to appease the spirits wandering the Earh on this night. As with many traditional holidays celebrated, Halloween has evolved over centuries to be the modern celebration we see today, with a huge focus on marketing and big businesses making money from things like selling costumes decorations and food.

 

 

Trick or treating

Whilst trick or treating is a great way of celebrating Halloween with friends and family, it is important to know that some residents find Halloween, and in particular trick or treaters intimidating and distressing. It is therefore important for you to respect people’s properties, look for tell tale sign such as decorations or pumpkins outside a property, and if you knock and nobody answers, to politely move on.

It’s also important to keep yourself and other safe whilst out and about, see below some do’s and don’ts.

Do

  • Take extra care crossing the road, Halloween see’s the highest number of children and young people in road traffic accidents of the entire year!
  • Dress to be seen, wearing something light or reflective, or carrying a torch will help others see you
  • Respect people’s rights, don’t stay out too late, only knock once, be polite, and be prepared to take no for an answer.
  • Have a responsible adult with you to help keep you safe.

Don’t

  • Go trick or treating alone, it is safer, and more fun, if you are with a small group with friends and family.
  • Go inside houses, even if you get invited, stay on the doorstep where others can see you.
  • Throw any objects at people, cars or properties, it is classed as a criminal offense and you will be arrested.
Children outside a door trick or treating with a bucket of sweets in hand

Halloween costumes and fire safety

A lot of Halloween costumes are made out of highly flammable material, and so it’s really important to be aware of fire when wearing a Halloween costume. See below some tips:

Do’s

  • Keep costumes away from naked flames, a lot of costumes are made of highly flammable materials
  • Use LED candles as an alternative, they look just as good and don’t have the fire hazard!
  • If candles are going to be burned, ensure they are in insulated cases
  • Be aware that draughts from open windows can knock over candles and be a hazard.

 

Don’ts

  • Wear fancy dress costumes in bonfire night, while bonfires and fireworks are alight to avoid the risk of a costume catching fire
  • Burn candles when young children are present, always make sure a responsible adult is around.
  • Leave burning candles unattended.

If your clothes do catch fire:

STOP what you are doing and stay very still.

DROP to the floor.

ROLL backwards and forwards until the flames have gone out.

 

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