10/19/2026
HALLOWEEN SAFETY:
HAUNTED HOUSE
One of the greatest times of the year is Halloween!! It’s a time where we see children and their parents walk around the neighborhoods knocking on doors to collect candy and showing off their creative costumes. Another part of the holiday is going to those scary Haunted Houses!!
Are you, your workplace, or organization planning on hosting a Haunted House? Is this Haunted House going to be in your residence, business, backyard, or are you renting space? Depending on where you’re hosting the Haunted House, you need to make sure the Haunted House is Prepared and Ready for any Emergency or Disaster that might occur. Since Haunted Houses are more active at night, you want to make sure the facility is ready for any kind of Emergency or Disaster that may occur in the darkness (inside and outside).
As a Host, you want to consider some of these Tips:
General:
• Know the capacity of the Haunted House and make sure everyone enforces it. You don’t want to overcrowd the facility in case something drastic happens or you have to evacuate the facility.
• Make sure all employees/actors know what their duties are in case of an Emergency or Disaster breaks out.
• Make sure all employees/actors know how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Make sure all employees/actors know the Emergency Action Plan.
• Most importantly, all hosts, employees, and actors should know how and ways to communicate with each other in case of an Emergency or a Disaster.
• Make sure all employees/actors know how to communicate and assist with people with disabilities.
• Make sure all employees/actors have a flashlight with them at all times. This helps with the Evacuation process.
• Have all employees/actors be involved with all Emergency and Disaster drills.
• Have extra wheelchairs on hand in case of an Emergency or Disaster breaks out. This will be helpful for those that need extra assist in Evacuation.
• Have First Aid Kits installed
Fire Prevention:
• Have fire extinguishers installed along the routes of the Haunted House.
• Make sure all the fire extinguishers are in the green and ready to use.
• A, B, & C class fire extinguishers may be used in the Haunted House.
• If the Haunted House is located in an interior building or there are interior props, make sure to install the amount of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• If possible, make sure all smoke detectors are linked to one detector. When one detector goes off, they all go off at the same time.
• Make sure you have a way to alert people with disabilities when it comes to hearing and vision disabilities.
• Use flame-resistant props.
• Do not use open flames.
Electrical:
• Make sure all wires, extension cords, and power strips are working well and don’t have any frayed wires. If they are frayed and are not working, throw them out!!
• Don’t connect power strips to power strips.
• Make sure all wires that are crossing the pathways are covered in tape or use cord protectors to prevent trips and falls.
• Do not overload circuits and cords.
Evacuation/Exits:
• Make sure the pathway through the Haunted House is 100% clear to all Exit Doors.
• Make sure there is more than one Emergency Exit in the Haunted House.
• Do not Block and Emergency Exits.
• Make sure all Exit Doors are unlocked.
• Do not Cover any Emergency Exits with decorations/lights/props.
If you have any questions regarding Safety or Fire Prevention when it comes to your Haunted House, please contact your local Fire Department.
Sincerely,
Greg MacMorran
Global Disaster, Emergency, & Security Preparedness Network
