It’s October and Halloween is going to be here before we know it. I have always loved Halloween because I just love an excuse to dress up. Underwriter’s Laboratory is offering up some steps on how to be safe on Halloween.
How to Create a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween
For families across the country, Halloween is the official launch of the holiday and decorating season, which is why it is important for parents to recognize the potential safety hazards that may be associated with many of the season’s celebratory activities.
1. Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets when using lights to decorate the home for Halloween. When hanging lights, use plastic hooks or clips to reduce the risk of electric shock and fire hazards. Never nail or staple light strings.
2. Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire, such as decorations, window treatments and paper. Halloween is the fifth highest day for reported candle fires. Candles are the cause of approximately 15,000 reported house fires every year.
3. Look for flame resistant labels when purchasing costumes, fabric and accessories. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the fabric will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.
Then after Halloween it always feels like November and December just fly by with Holidays and things to do. Growing up, I had a huge family. I have two moms and two dads and each of them have four/five siblings so visiting everyone was always a huge ordeal, but still fun. So I know that you will all be very busy this Holiday Season and I wanted to share UL’s tips on staying safe for the rest of the year!
Serve Up a Side of Safety This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the No. One day for home fires, which isn’t surprising since Americans will roast, bake, brine, grill and even deep fry more than 45 million turkeys on November 26. This Thanksgiving, UL is offering these simple cooking safety tips to help keep cooks safe in the kitchen, regardless of their level of expertise!
1. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.
2. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it: Make sure the fire extinguisher is rated for grease fires and electrical fires and read the directions carefully. The acronym P.A.S.S. can help make sure you use it properly.
· Pull the pin; Aim the spray nozzle low at the base of the fire; Squeeze the nozzle to spray the contents; Sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.
3. Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread.
Last but not least is “The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year”, Christmas. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and all of the festivities around that!
Wrap Up the Year Safely This Holiday Season
Between finding the perfect gift for loved ones, trimming the tree and sprucing up the house with festive decorations, safety can easily be overlooked during the holiday season. That’s why UL is reminding families to take a few minutes to think about the most precious gift of all when celebrating the holidays – safety.
4. A fresh tree is key: If the needles are not fresh, it can lead to a greater risk of fire. Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. Place tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water and check moisture level frequently.
5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
6. Read manufacturer instructions: When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together. Light strings with screw-in bulbs should never have more than 50 bulbs connected together.
7. Examine packaging: Parents should thoroughly examine new gifts, especially if they have young children at home. Pay particular attention to products in boxes or packages that do not offer the following:
· A brand name
· Manufacturer’s name with contact information for reporting problems with the product
Enter to Win:
UL picnic basket loaded with UL goodies
To Enter:
Leave a comment telling me which of the tips is most useful to you!
This is not a sponsored giveaway and it ends October 25th.
7. Examine packaging:
I like the stay in the kitchen while food is cooking
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I did not know about the UL mark on lights.
I think the indoor/outdoor UL mark tip was a good one.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen!
Place tree in a treestand that holds 1 gallon of water was the most helpful to me! 🙂
Reading manufacturer instructions
This one is probably the most useful to me: Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it.
Thanks!
5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark.
Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark:
I hang lights indoors and outdoors. Never thought to check. Thanks!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
read the manufacturer’s instructions!
To carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking! I never thought of that but it’s a great tip as I sometimes leave the stove unattended for a few minutes!
i definately like the tip on the indoor/outdoor cord mark
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire is common sense but still so many fires are started by not following this rule.
Keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen is the best tip of all.
#2 keep candles away from flamable things – very important
msboatgal at aol.com
I find this useful:
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread.
The tip to look for the UL marking on the indoor and outdoor lights is most helpful to me. I had no idea that these were marked to distinguish which lights to use where.
Thanks for the chance to win!
The best tip for us is to not connect more than 3 strands of lights and no more than 50 bulbs per strand. I cant believe they sell them that way if not safe! My husband is an electrical guy and we STILL overload circuits because we are not thinking and never think anything is gonna’ happen to US!
thanks for the great safety post!
“Look for flame resistant labels when purchasing costumes, fabric and accessories”
I hadn’t really thought about this and it’s an excellent tip! Always look for this in pajamas, but it is such a great feature to look for in a Halloween costume, too.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Hugs,
Barb
ruralmoms AT gmail DOT com
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. Natural instinct would’ve told me to get water right away… big OOPS.
Sadly, stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Sometimes I walk away. Not a good thing.
mommieseatsoggycereal at gmail dot com
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen – we actually already have one, but I’m amazed at how many people don’t.
The useful tip is Look for flame resistant labels when purchasing costumes, fabric and accessories.
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
Examining the package, I never thought of looking for contact info or reporting problems.
I also keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, hubby gave me one for christmas that year, after my kitchen fire that previous spring on our 10th anniversary.
karenmed409 at comcast dot net
My favorite tip is do not put water on a grease fire, alot of people make the mistake thinking water puts out fires not makes them worse.
megankayden@yahoo.com
I like the fire extinguisher acronym. Very helpful.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great advice to check the packaging.
Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
is the useful to me because my husband seems to think you can put indoor lights outside with no problem and it drives me crazy.
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com
Reading manufacturer instructions
“Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking” I have a bad habit of leaving the kitchen when cooking. This was a good reminder to stop doing that!
into your GIFT BAG!
let me know if I win it!
& thanks,
Rosiey
READ MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label. I always wonder if I am using the correct lights. Now an easy way to tell.
Pull the pin; Aim the spray nozzle low at the base of the fire; Squeeze the nozzle to spray the contents; Sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.
You don’t have time to think when there is a fire. The above tip is something the whole family should know.
The one instruction above I should follow more than I do is: Read Directions!
I love Christmas so A fresh tree is key is a good rule for our family.
Put a tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water is very useful to me! I do get fresh trees every year and did not know this.
1. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking. This is the tip that is most helpful to me, since I have a new large dog
and she still needs some training, like staying away from a hot stove. I also like the idea of carrying the oven mitt as a reminder.
lfhpueblo at msn dot com
I need to remember to get a fresh fire extinguisher for the kitchen.
Look for the UL mark
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it is the best tip for me. I think that it’s important to have one in the home.
I had never heard the acronym PASS before. I like it and will hopefully never need it.
The most useful tip for me is to remember to examine the packaging when buying toys for my granddaughter.
I like this tip
1. Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets
The fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a great idea.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. I am very guilty of this one.
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread.
I did not know this…luckily I have not had a grease fire. Thanks for the tips!
I like the P.A.S.S. tip.
Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets when using lights to decorate the home for Halloween……. I always forget to do this
I always forget to inspect the decorations whenever I get them out of storage.
Check the cord for indoor or outdoor use!
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
Examine Packaging is very important
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. This is always a good thing to remember.
A fresh tree is key
I think the reminder of checking your electrical outlets, wires, cords etc..is very helpful and a good reminder..So many fires happen every year that are preventable!!
Corinne
ckurzmann@yahoo.com
I like the tip not to pour water on a grease fire. I never knew water could actually help a fire spread. tarynlc86(at)yahoo(dot)com
I didn’t realize that UL marked the cords with indoor or outdoor use labels.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it.
I liked the tip: Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark. I didn’t know that there were separate marks.
smchester at gmail dot com
i forget to check the lights before i put them up great reminder
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking is the most useful – I’ve experienced what can happen if you walk away!
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking
I always tend to wander around the house doing other chores…
Thank you for the giveaway. Not to pour water on a grease fire, this is something I didn’t know!
5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark
My favorite tip: Read manufacturer instructions: When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together
I had no idea….that’s a good rule to follow.
When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together.
Look for flame resistant labels.
staying in the kitchen when you are cooking, that is hard but smart.
tattgiff at centurytel dot net
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it, is my best tip to remember.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
The tip to string no more than three midget light string sets together is the most helpful to me. I use a lot of them and I didn’t know that limit.
Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. I’ve done that before and it ended horribly.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
Look for the UL Mark. Trust the respected company.
The tip I found most useful is to Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets
6. Read manufacturer instructions means the most to me
Sweet blog and thank you for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
=]
The tip most useful to me is to, Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. These seems like a pretty common sense tip but I’m currently guilty of not having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Put that on my list of things to do today
I did not know about the different UL labels, that is a useful tip!
twincere[at]gmail.com
Do not pour water on a grease fire, you know for the longest time I thought you uses flour or salt to put out a grease fire, that is a no no too.
2. Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire, such as decorations, window treatments and paper-this one-for me -its very easy not to notice things like that-thanks
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. I know we have an extinguisher, I just don’t know where it is at the moment.
“Do not pour water on a grease fire” I need to ingrain this in my memory because it such a natural reaction for me to want to pour water on any kind of fire. Thanks!
Checking decorations when you get them out.
Not pouring water on a grease fire is most useful to me because I always forget that. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
The tip that is most useful to me is the Indoor/Outdoor tip. I did not realize that UL Plugs were marked with a different colored holographic label for indoor and outdoor usage.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
The P.A.S.S. acronym tip about fire extinguishers was helpful!
Under #6, they list some tips for safe usage of Christmas lights that I found very enlightening. No pun intended.
Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
I like all of your tips for inspecting for safety – toys and decoration packageings!
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Everyone should remember that especially ones with children!
I always check the lights and plugs before using!
I have to remember to inspect my decorations after I get them from the basement. suelee1998 @ gmail.com
fire extinguisher in the kitchen and KNOW how to use it
I think the 5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: tip is the one I care about the most.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Fire Extinguisher for the kitchen is so so important
Keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a great tip. My mom used to do this and we never needed it but felt alot safer having one.
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. I have more than once left the kitchen and forgot something was cooking. Ugh!
I found #2 most useful! I definitely keep a fire extinguisher in my kitchen. Just in case….
I like keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. I keep meaning to get one and then forgetting to do it.
Not putting water on a grease fire was extremely helpful
Stay in the Kitchen while cooking is the most helpful. It would be the most obvious but we had a fire start in our kitchen three years ago because we were cooking and the stoves wires caught fire it was horrible but everyone was fine
Hi jamie,
You won the UL Safety giveaway on Mom Start. Please send me your name phone number and address for shipping. Thank you!
The best one to me is about keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and knowing how to use it. So many people buy them but then they don’t even look at them for years, so if a fire started, would they even know how to work it?
beckytag618 at gmail dot com
Not leaving the kitchen while food is cooking is something I need to be careful about. Taking an oven mitt is a good idea.
citygrlatheart(at)gmail(dot)com
This is great information! Thanks for posting it. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it: Make sure the fire extinguisher is rated for grease fires and electrical fires and read the directions carefully. The acronym P.A.S.S. can help make sure you use it properly.
michelle (at) harrisbb (dotcom)
Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking
They were all great tips. I would say #4 with Christmas coming. I never really asked how fresh a tree was but I will this year. Thanks so much for the tips.
“Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. ” is helpful!
The tip about checking for flame resistence is important when looking at costumes. This is a good giveaway of needed items. Thanks for the Giveaway!!!!
I like this one: Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.
I hate standing around in the kitchen while water boils. Carrying an oven mitt is ideal!
I didn’t know about the UL labels being different. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the giveaway…looking for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
I learned Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
1. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.
is most important! I Never leave the Kitchen while cooking & will not leave the house with even a crock pot on!
My favorite tip is the “Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking” tip. Bad things can happen if you leave food cooking in the kitchen unattended, as fire departments across the country probably would attest
The best tip is making sure you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen at all times!
ARDY22 AT EARTHLINK DOT NET
Do not leave the kitchen while cooking food is most valuable to me cause I actually caught my kitchen on fire a couple of years ago cause I was heating up some grease and I got distracted and it caught on fire! A fire extinguisher saved my house, get one right now!
Not everybody knows to “Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it”, so I will select that tip
4. A fresh tree is key: If the needles are not fresh, it can lead to a greater risk of fire. Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. Place tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water and check moisture level frequently.
I need to remember to look for the UL mark.
Email subscriber.