Halloween safety tips for your house

ghosts goblins Dangers at Home: Halloween is full of potential dangers. Not only do you need to make sure your kids are safe by teaching them to stay in groups and checking their candy before eating it, but you also need to make sure your house is safe. The following are tips on how to protect pirates, princesses, cowboys, and any other trick-or-treaters that come your way.

Keep a light on: The general rule that candy finders live by is simple: when a porch light isn’t on, the candy is gone, when a porch light is on, the candy isn’t gone. Not only does this help trick-or-treaters know which houses to go to, but a porch light also keeps the path illuminated, allowing them to see where they’re going behind their monster mask.

Beware of ice: Anyone who lives in a winter-prone climate knows one thing: it always, always snows on Halloween. While this forces the kids to act, dress warmer and bring hot chocolate, it also makes the homeowners react: the driveway, driveway, and sidewalk have to be shoveled. You need to not only remove snow, but also defrost – nothing will ruin a child’s Halloween like a fall on the pavement. Doing something as simple as laying gravel or salt can make all the difference.

Remove any obstacles: The path between the sidewalk and the front door can be littered with a variety of things: a garden hose, your child’s bike, a gnome. On a typical day, these things may not serve as obstacles, but on Halloween it’s a whole different story. Filled with the excitement of candy, the children run to the porches, forgetting to watch where they are going. Instead of leaving things for them to dodge, or more likely trip over, make sure the path between the street and the candy is completely clear.

Don’t leave the pumpkin on overnight: You have carved the pumpkin. You have baked the seeds. You have read the candle inside. Your pumpkin is ready to debut. As it sits on your front porch or on your windowsill glowing radiantly, you can’t help but feel proud. No matter the pride, your pumpkin won’t last forever—avoid potential disaster and be sure to turn it off before you go to bed.

Take care of your pets: Pets are not big fans of Halloween. Not only are some dressed up and paraded through the dog park, but they are agitated by repeated knocking on doors and doorbells. Instead of subjecting them to a nervous breakdown, put them in the garage or basement, somewhere they won’t be forced to be on perpetual watch.