It’s Halloween Safety Tips time! Le’ts make sure the scariest thing on your block this Halloween are the neighborhood kids dressed in scary costumes. Here are 10 Halloween Safety Tips to keep the little trick-or-treaters — and your home — safe this Halloween.
Halloween Safety Tips to Keep Your Kids Trick-or-Treating
Tip #1: Practice Good Pedestrian Safety Habits
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a place that shuts down the block for Halloween — Woo Boo! — remind your kids to walk on sidewalks. For safety bonus points: invest in a jumbo-size canister of glow stick skeletons and pumpkins and bedeck your kids in neon bracelets and necklaces.
Beware of Distracted Drivers
Tip #2: Do Your Door-to-Door Trick-or-Treating on Foot
There are plenty of reasons to lock the car in the garage on October 31, but perhaps the number one reason? Pedestrian safety. According to Safewise, children are four times more likely to be struck by a vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year! So find a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and make sure you’re keeping a close eye on your ghouls.
Plus, if you’re going to be collecting pillowcases full of sugar, you may as well burn a few calories while you’re at it! Not only that, but safely stowing your car or truck keeps it out of the damaging reach of All Hallows’ Eve ne’er-do-wells.
Tip #3: E.T. Phone Home
In case you find yourself separated from your youngsters, make sure your kids have your phone number memorized so they can ask a safe adult to contact you. If your kids don’t quite have your digits down, grab a Sharpie and write it on their arm or costume.
Tip #4: Choose Your Candy Wisely
There’s nothing like knocking on a stranger’s door and asking for candy. Flouting the stranger-danger rule may even be the best part of Halloween!
However, whether you’re doing the tricking with your kids or you’re in charge of the treating, candy consciousness is a good idea.
In our expert opinion, Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, Butterfingers, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the cream of the candy crop. Unfortunately, the kid with the peanut allergy may not feel the same way.
Even if your candy offering doesn’t contain nuts but you want to be extra vigilant, check the package for the warning, “Manufactured in a facility that processes nuts,” or something to that effect.
If you’re concerned about possible choking hazards for little ones, avoid hard candies like jawbreakers or gumballs.
Tip #5 Don’t Leave Your Candy Unattended
If you’re heading out for the night, it may be tempting to leave a bucket of treats on the porch with a “Help Yourself!” sign. While that’s mighty generous of you, you’re opening yourself up to the possibility of candy tampering. And stocking that spooky neighbor kid’s bag in one go.
5 Halloween Safety Tips to Keep Your Home Secure
Now that your kids are safe, making sure that your home is well protected against mischief-makers, vandals, and over-eager (or clumsy) trick-or-treaters is no small undertaking.
But we’ve got you covered.
Tip #6: Declutter to Make Your Home a Hazard-Free Zone
No one likes tears and tantrums on Halloween. Make your property safe for over-eager trick-or-treaters by making sure that your sidewalks, steps, and yard are free from toys, debris, hoses, and any other objects that might trip little goblins in the dark. Plus, it’ll help protect you and your family against any potential liability claims.
While you’re at it, Halloween is a great time to make sure that the railings on your porch and deck are sturdy and well-secured.
Tip #7: Decorate for Halloween with Safety and Style
Halloween decorations are the best. Check your strands of skull lights to make sure they’re in good working order. We recommend using battery-operated tea lights for your jack-o-lanterns rather than old-school candles. As you stage your front yard horror scene, consider opting for rubber pitchforks and scythes rather than the real (and dangerous) thing.
Tip #8: Light Up the Perimeter
While a darkened entryway makes for a spooktacular experience, for Halloween safety’s sake, you may want to consider lighting the way. Dust off the Christmas lights a little early or spring for a few strings of seasonally-appropriate orange LED lights.
If you’re planning on hitting the street with your kids, don’t leave your property in the dark. Turn on a few lights at the back of your home, away from the front door, and invest in some good motion sensor lighting.
This indicates that you’re not open for candy-giving, but gives the impression that you’re home and on the look-out for potential pranksters or vandals.
Tip #9: Keep Your Pets Locked Up
For the safety of your fur family and those collecting all the candy, make sure that your pets are safely secured — well away from the front door.
Tip #10: Don’t Open the Door to Just Anyone
Pint-size convicts, presidents, vampires, and goblins are always welcome. But if larger shadows loom behind your peephole or your security cam and your Spidey-sense are going off, just remember: you don’t have to open the door!
Once the onslaught of young, sugar-happy candy collectors has waned to a trickle, it’s time to turn off your light and call it quits for the night.
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
Copyright 2019
LARGO Consulting Services, LLC is committed to providing safe and secure environments where you live, work, study, and play. For more information about our physical security assessments, security consulting, business services, LARGO Secure Schools, or our marketing, social media, and branding services for security professionals, please contact LARGO Consulting Services, LLC online or call 833-LARGOCS. We also invite you to connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.