Tips for a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween

Halloween is here – the time when little ghosts, goblins, vampires, zombies and a superhero or two will run door-to-door, excitedly sharing tricks and collecting treats. FirstEnergy would like to remind all participants in this honored and fun tradition to include safety as part of their plans before the big night arrives.

Safe Decorating Tips

Whether your haunted house is adorned with spooky lights or intricately carved pumpkins, a few simple steps can help keep your family and candy-loving visitors safe on Halloween night. Keep these tips in mind:

• Don't use open flames in jack o' lanterns or other Halloween decorations. Battery or electric-powered tea lights or glow sticks in jack o' lanterns are much safer than candles.
• Wear flame-resistant costumes and never walk near lit candles or other open flames.
• Keep walking areas, steps and porches well-lit and free of obstacles to avoid falls.
• Decorative lights should be approved by Underwriter's Laboratory and carry a UL seal on the tag. Red UL marks indicate the lights are approved for indoor or outdoor use, while green UL tags indicate approval for indoor use only.
• Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into outlets that feature Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs).
• Indoor lights should not touch window treatments, carpet or furniture.
• Place all lights on a timer if you'll be away from home, and turn off all lights before you go to bed.

Plan Your Trick or Treat Route

Trick or treat participants are encouraged to limit their travels to well-lit, familiar areas, and never go trick-or-treating alone – it's less fun and less safe. Wherever possible, use established crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street. Carrying a flashlight or including reflective material or glow sticks as part of a costume improves visibility for all.

When you arrive back home, inspect all treats before consuming to assure they have not been tampered with.

Motorists should use extra caution during trick or treat hours, especially on narrow neighborhood streets and/or streets without streetlights.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook all year long for tips and resources to stay safe when using electricity in and around your home. A variety of safety information for families, contractors, first responders and more is also available at www.firstenergycorp.com/safety.

Additional recommendations to stay safe this Halloween can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/family/halloween.

CONTACT: Chris Eck, (330) 384-7939; Christy Hajoway, (330) 374-6544