{"id":111493,"date":"2022-10-28T16:05:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T23:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=111493"},"modified":"2022-10-28T16:14:15","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T23:14:15","slug":"a-safe-halloween-is-the-real-treat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2022\/10\/28\/a-safe-halloween-is-the-real-treat\/","title":{"rendered":"A safe Halloween is the real treat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

By\u00a0Paul Netter<\/strong><\/em>
\nSouthern California Edison<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In Southern California, there\u2019s no business like show business, but the Halloween business is scary good too.<\/p>\n

Surpassing even pre-pandemic levels, a record $10.6 billion expected to be spent this year on the fall celebration \u2014 including $3.6 billion on costumes and $3.4 billion on decorations.\u00a0But to help ensure the safest spooky celebration, all those ghoulish costumes and decorations must be worn, installed and maintained safely to prevent electrical and fire incidents.<\/p>\n

Southern California Edison joins fire departments and public safety officials nationwide in encouraging smart and careful decisions with electrically powered decorations, animatronics and more that create the perfect Halloween ambiance \u2014 and unnecessary hazards.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is crucial that you look for and, more importantly, eliminate potential hazards from your Halloween decorations and costumes,\u201d said Nicole Kraus, senior advisor of Enterprise Risk Management & Public Safety at SCE. \u201cFor instance, damaged lights and worn cords should be replaced, costumes and decorations should be flame-resistant, and burning candles \u2014 a major fire risk \u2014 are best replaced by flameless candles. Decorations and costumes should always be chosen with safety in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

That safety would clearly preclude wearing flammable, billowy, long-flowing costumes near burning candles or jack-o\u2019-lanterns illuminated by them. The same applies to those candles near highly flammable decorations like skeletons and ghosts. With California in peak wildfire season and nearly half of the estimated 800 annual home decoration fires beginning with d\u00e9cor too close to a heat source, flameless candles and glow sticks are safest for enhancing any decorations.<\/p>\n

Decorators outdoors on rooftops and ladders should always beware of power lines, staying at least 10 feet away from them when placing light strands or cords onto homes or into trees or vegetation.\u00a0Candles and power lines are only two of the many potential problems posed by costumes and decorations. Here are additional dos and don\u2019ts for celebrating Halloween safely- Opens in new window:<\/p>\n

HALLOWEEN DOS:<\/strong><\/h4>\n