Halloween Safety Tips From The Culver City Fire Department

Press release from the City of Culver City:

October 13, 2020

As you prepare for Halloween, the Culver City Fire Department wants you to keep a few safety tips in mind.

Let's start with Public Health guidance:

Remember that the Health Officer Order currently prohibits gatherings and events. Halloween gatherings, events or parties with non-household members are not permitted even if they are conducted outdoors. Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions are not allowed.

Door to door trick-or-treating is not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors, ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread, and because sharing food is risky. "Trunk-or-treating" where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats is also not recommended since it is difficult to avoid crowding.

What is allowed?

• Online parties/contests (e.g., costume or pumpkin carving)
• Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle based parades
• Halloween meals at outdoor restaurants (must comply with restaurant protocol)
• Halloween themed art installations at an outdoor museum (must follow museum protocol)
• Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween themed decorations
• Find hauntingly fun things to do at the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department's Virtual Recreation Center!

Remember personal protection measures

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween, it is important to keep the following in mind:

1. Correctly wear a cloth face covering to prevent disease spread when outside your home and around others that are not part of your household.
2. Avoid confined spaces - Actively stay away from indoor spaces that don't allow for easy distancing of at least 6 feet between you and others.
3. Avoid close contact - Stay at least 6 feet away (3 or more adult steps) from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking, and singing.
4. Wash or sanitize your hands often.
5. Clean frequently touched items regularly.
6. If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, and away from others.

Fire Safety Tips

Costumes

• Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
• Masks can obstruct vision—consider using make-up instead.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.
• Provide children with glow sticks or flashlights to help them to see, and to be seen by drivers.

Decorations

• Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources.
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in jack-o-lanterns.

The Culver City Fire Department wishes everyone a safe Halloween!

This press release was produced by the City of Culver City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.