Fire Safety is something every child should learn, and is especially important around the holidays.  Light-up decorations and open flames can often times present a problem on Halloween, especially around the costumes of excited trick-or-treaters. Taking a few safety precautions before the big night can help keep children safe from fire hazards.

When buying costumes, props or wigs, look for items that are nonflammable or flame-retardant.  If you're making your child's costume at home, consider using materials that won't easily catch on fire.  Avoid long capes or billowing costumes that could easily come in contact with a flame without the trick-or-treater's notice.

You might also want to rethink the way you decorate your house for Halloween. Try using battery-operated candles instead of real candles where children may come in contact with them.  Keep curious kids under constant supervision while candles are lit and use long matches or a long lighter to avoid getting burnt yourself when you light the candles.  Although dried flowers, cornstalks, hay or crepe paper may look great as decorations or even as part of a costume, these items can catch on fire very easily and should be kept away from open flames and heat sources. If you use lights to decorate your house, make sure to buy the right kind to fit your needs. Check to see if they are indoor or outdoor lights and if they are prone to heat up very quickly.

Make sure that you don't put any decorations or other items in front of doorways, thus blocking the escape routes from your house.  Go over these escape routes with your children. Fire safety for the home is something they can use year round, so take the opportunity to educate your children and go over your escape plan.  Make sure your kids know to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire: stop immediately, drop to the ground, cover their face with their hands and roll over and over again to extinguish the flames.  Halloween comes just as we set our clocks back and is a great reminder to check your smoke detectors and replace any batteries that have died.

Your children shouldn't just be educated on how to get out of your home in the event of a fire, but in other places, too. If they are attending a Halloween party, make sure they know where the exits are and plan out what they would do in case of a fire. With all the people wearing costumes around open flames or hot lights it's better to be safe than sorry.

Fire safety may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Halloween, but it is important to consider. If you take precautionary measures even before the fun begins, you can rest assured that you and your family can have a safe holiday without worrying about fire hazards.