Safety In Haunted Houses
Haunted houses are meant to thrill and entertain, but there are a lot of “behind-the-scenes” measures taken to ensure the safety of the visitors.
Steve Roscio, director of the Haunted Mines, told KRDO Newschannel 13 that during the months before the haunt opens, developers work in close contact with local fire marshals.
Fire marshals inspect items such as outlets, lighting, exits and flooring to ensure they meet strict and regulated guidelines.
Roscio said at any point in the maze, guests must have at least one emergency exit within a 50-foot radius.
Roscio said there are also several fire prevention precautions taken at the haunt, including the usage of fire-retardant on flammable materials.
?But, Fire Watch is the main thing. We have people dedicated to nothing but watching for hot spots,? said Roscio.
There is also a security team, separate from Fire Watch, and Roscio said it is constantly roaming the haunt, monitoring the crowd.
?They roam the haunt. There?s catwalks above everything. They?re on top, they?re down in the scenes, in pockets, watching you. Everyone?s watched, everywhere they go in here,? he said.
Roscio said that in the event of an emergency, there are more than 20 exit doors that the highly trained staff can use to help a guest immediately exit the haunt.
In the event of a life-threatening event, Roscio said there is a plan. If the staff is notified of a ?Code Red,? all of the distracting noises, sounds and lights will immediately be shut off and the emergency lighting will be lit. Roscio said the staff is trained to help the guests exit the haunt first, before they exit themselves.
Roscio said safety is a number one concern for the staff of the Haunted Mines, and they do everything they can to ensure all of their guests have an enjoyable time.
