Kildare Fire Service urging parents to ensure their children know how to 'Stop, Drop and Roll' this Halloween

By Kim O'Leary

As the trick-or-treaters excitedly don their costumes tonight for Halloween, Kildare Fire Service is encouraging parents to teach their children to 'stop, drop and roll' in the event of an emergency.

Taking to social media with useful tips on fire safety this Halloween, Kildare Fire Service said: "Do your children know about "Stop, Drop and Roll"? Teach them now, especially for Halloween. Hopefully they will not need to use it, but always good to know just in case."

Parents are encouraged to check that their children know how to 'stop, drop and roll' if their clothing catches fire-have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground covering their face and rolling over and over to put the flames out.

Meanwhile, if children are going to friends' Halloween parties tonight, have them look for ways out of the home and plan how they would safely exit the home in the event of an emergency.

Halloween is one of the busiest nights of the year for the Fire Service, and they have provided simple guidelines for you to follow to keep safe:

Use battery operated candles rather than open flames if possible
When choosing costumes, use ones without long trailing fabric
Be careful in locations where fireworks are present. These are lethal if used wrong.
Use fireguards in front of home fires and do not leave them unguarded when you go out trick or treating!
Respect the emergency services if you see them, we're only doing our job but want to be safe doing so.

Meanwhile, Kildare County Council is warning that bonfires are illegal and they are also warning of 'stockpile raids' being carried out to remove bonfire material across the county. Last year over 450 tonnes of bonfire materials were moved on Halloween after over 300 reports from members of the public.