diff --git a/val_sim.py b/val_sim.py
index 2d283450fc40b82c6f59f71fc315fd48d5fb7705..c57c354cd8aafa839e59e64927be16f95a52fde4 100644
--- a/val_sim.py
+++ b/val_sim.py
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ input_data = sys.stdin.read()
 event_dict = json.loads(input_data)
 
 # Extract the values from the event dictionary
-dt = eval(event_dict['key1'])
-close = eval(event_dict['key2'])
-buy = eval(event_dict['key3'])
-sell = eval(event_dict['key4'])
-h = int(event_dict['key5'])
-d = int(event_dict['key6'])
-t = event_dict['key7']
+dt = json.loads(event_dict['key1'])  # List of dates
+close = json.loads(event_dict['key2'])  # List of close prices
+buy = json.loads(event_dict['key3'])  # List of buy signals
+sell = json.loads(event_dict['key4'])  # List of sell signals
+h = int(event_dict['key5'])  # History length
+d = int(event_dict['key6'])  # Number of shots
+t = event_dict['key7']  # Trade type ('buy' or 'sell')
 
 minhistory = int(h)
 shots = int(d)