What can you do to make sure the guests who come to your haunted house have a good time? There are so many ways to make your haunted house unique and entertaining, but it’s always important to ensure that the environment is safe. We want to share with you a few pointers that may help you lookout for some dangers that could harm your guests.
Prohibit Drugs
Attractions and drugs don’t mix very well. When people are inebriated, they tend to make poor decisions, and they can put themselves and other people at risk. It’s a good idea to completely prohibit alcohol, cigarettes, and all other kinds of drugs at your haunted house.
Cigarettes and marijuana should be prohibited because they can easily start fires, especially in the confined spaces of the haunted house and with all the draped and hanging material that may be present. Alcohol and other drugs that relax inhibitions can be dangerous because your customers and workers may make poor decisions and cause injuries.
We recommend making your haunted house as much a drug free zone as possible. Put up signs at the attraction and put warnings on the website so that people know ahead of time what to expect and that they are not allowed to bring drugs on the premises.
Keep It Clean
The haunted house should be a very clean place, even if there are fake spider webs hanging everywhere and draped sheets on every wall. A haunted house can be very tidy and safe and still be scary.
If you have a lot of business coming through your house, you may want to schedule professional cleaners to keep up with it for you. Otherwise, make sure the attraction is cleaned at least once a day. You should also have your employees look out for spills and other dangers in the haunted house that happen throughout the day. They should clean those up as quickly as possible, and you may have to shut down the house for a few minutes just to get the mess cleaned up and keep the area safe.
Even cleaning up dust and dirt in your haunted house is important to creating a safe and pleasant environment. When you cut down on dust, your guests can breathe easier, and they are less likely to suffer from allergy symptoms.
If there are any water leaks, you need to deal with those immediately, since they can cause mold. Mold in haunted houses is a problem because it can trigger allergic reactions as well as breathing difficulties. It also smells bad, and you just want to be rid of it.
In some cases, you will need to hire specialized mold removers to get rid of the mold completely and you may not be able to remove it on your own. Mold can devalue your home and make your attraction less inviting. Don’t mess around with this and ensure that you get rid of mold as soon as you see it.
Keep Props and Decorations in Good Condition
If you have a haunted house up and running for very long, you’re going to find that your decorations start to fall apart and your props start to wear down. Part of this is simply the wear and tear of having guests move through the haunted house. Some of it may be due to poor materials that deteriorate or slip off after a while. In some cases, it could even be that your guests are interfering with the decorations and causing damage.
Whatever the reason, you want to keep your haunted house looking its best and make sure that all the props and decorations are in good condition. If they do become damaged, they can create tripping hazards and other dangers. Any exposed wires or other materials can cause all sorts of injuries that you need to avoid.
The best practice is to walk through the haunted house carefully before opening it each day. Make sure that everything is in order and that there are no hazards for your guests or costumed employees who may be operating inside the haunted house.
Keep in mind that most haunted house interiors tend to be dark, so it’s easy for guests and employees to trip over something that is placed where it should not be. If there’s anything poking out or protruding that could cause injury, your guests may not see it until they bump into it. That’s why you want to take a careful inspection of the haunted house before you open it each day.
Look for Electrical Hazards
One of the most common problems with haunted houses is that the owners are not very careful about how they handle the electrical supply. They may plug multiple cords into the same outlet or use multiple extension cords to power a single light or animatronic. When you spread the electrical charge too thin, you can run into problems. When you send too much current into the same outlet, you can cause an overload or some other hazard.
Follow safety protocols when it comes to your outlets, lighting, and other electrical components. Make sure that you’re using the best safe practices and that you’re not cutting corners just to save some money or time.
Keep Emergency Exits Clear
The emergency exits in your haunted house should be kept completely clear and should never be blocked. You want to make them highly visible, ensuring that there are lighted signs in dark areas. You can also set up arrows to indicate where the exit is in case of an emergency.
Also ensure that your employees know where the emergency exits are located so they can find them in the event that something happens. Instruct employees to help guests find those exits if something goes wrong. The guest should not be permitted to simply stumble around in the dark trying to find the exits if the power goes out.
We hope these tips help keep your haunted house safe.