Tips to Keep Your Family, Pets, and Home Safe this Halloween
On Halloween, all the little ghosts and ghouls dress up and go from house to house, asking for tricks or treats. It can be great fun, as long as it is safe. We have put together safety tips to help you and your trick-or-treaters stay safe on Halloween.
8 Ways for Everyone to Stay Safe on Halloween
Don’t keep candles burning in Jack-o’-lanterns or luminaries. Consider using battery-operated flames.
You might also opt for a safer pumpkin “carving” by painting them or decorating them with stickers.
Look for flame-resistant costumes, wigs, and accessories, and ensure your dress or outfit is the proper length and fit so you don’t trip or catch fire.
When applying face paint, be careful around the eyes and test for skin allergies before using it.
Avoid using contact lenses that alter the look or color of your eyes, as they can be hazardous to your eye health.
Use a flashlight or LED light or apply reflective tape to your costume to see and be seen by others, including cars.
If you wear a mask, test for full visibility out of the eye holes and proper breathability.
If your costume requires a sword or weapon, do not swing it around and keep the pointed part away from yourself and others.
Top 3 Halloween Safety Tips for Kids
Never let them go inside a home to accept candy!
Inspect candy before eating. Check the contents of their bags and buckets for choking hazards and ensure candy is all properly sealed (throw away anything that’s been opened or is not packaged). It’s best to wait until you get home to indulge so you can better inspect the treats for safety hazards or concerns.
Have an allergy-safe Halloween. Review each label for potentially harmful ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, or gluten.
6 Pet Safety Tips for Halloween
If handing out candy to trick or treaters, be sure your pet is secure in a crate or another room. Pets can easily escape through frequently opened doors.
Be sure pets are wearing collars with ID tags. Constant doorbell ringing, frequent visitors, and disruption in their routine can spook even the most well-adjusted pet.
If your dog is easily stressed, consider walking your dog earlier in the evening to avoid crowded sidewalks and costumed kids.
Jack O’ Lanterns are festive but beware of candles. A darting cat or dog can accidentally tip them over and create a fire hazard! Consider switching to battery-operated tea lights this year.
Costumes can be fun. Make sure it is not restrictive or overly stressful to your pet. Costumes should be loose enough around the neck and ribcage so as not to restrict breathing. Be careful of anything that dangles, which could cause a choking hazard.
Keep candy out of your pet’s reach. Candy and chocolate can harm pets, causing major health concerns, and candy wrappers can easily cause a choking hazard.
5 Halloween Home Security Tips
Get a smart doorbell or outdoor security camera with night vision to see who’s at the door before you open it.
Be careful using sharp knives to carve pumpkins. Keep a firm grip on the handle with your forefinger and thumb. For convenience you may want to consider using pumpkin-carving tools that can be found in pumpkin carving kits.
Check the batteries in your smoke detector and test them before you light any candles and consider using battery-operated flames.
Turn on lights so they know you’re home and accepting guests.
Keep the entrance well-lit so people can see the pathway to your door.
