Trick or Treat Safety

DRIVING SAFETY...

Motorists traveling on Halloween night should remember that children are everywhere: streets, sidewalks, crosswalks and parking lots. You will need to be on the highest alert while driving. Many of the costumes children wear are dark and difficult to see, be sure to have your headlights on. Slow down if you see leaves on the ground, you never know where children may be hiding. Be alert at all times and please drive with caution.

ADVICE TO PARENTS...

• Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
  
• Know the route your children will be taking if you are not going with them.
  
• Set a curfew for children who are not being supervised by an adult.
  
• Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism.
  
• Safety is in numbers, older children should stay together in groups.
  
• Assure your child is not tempted to eat their "unchecked" treats. Provide them with a good meal before they go out and give them some treats from home to place in their pockets.
  
• Be careful about homemade treats or damaged wrappers.

COSTUME SAFETY...

• Costumes should be of bright material, visible in the dark or have reflective tape.
  
• Consider using face paint, masks can hinder a child's visibility.
  
• If they do wear a mask, make sure it fits securely to allow good visibility.
  
• Wear a well fitted costume. Loose costumes may cause the child to trip and fall.
  
• Tape child's name, address and telephone number to inside of costume.
  
• Do not allow sharp instruments to be used in costuming.

TRICK-OR-TREATING SAFETY...

• Carry a flash light.
  
• Walk on a sidewalk. If a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
  
• Avoid taking shortcuts across backyards or alleys.
  
• Stop at curbs.
  
• Look left, right and left again before crossing a street at a crosswalk or corner.
  
• Walk on well light streets.
  
• Obey all traffic signals and rules of the road.
  
• Trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods.
  
• Carry emergency change to make a telephone call if needed.
  
• Approach only homes that have their front porch light on.
  
• Accept treats only at the front door. Never enter the home of a stranger.
  
• Never eat treats before getting home. Allow your parents to inspect all candy first.

SECURE YOUR HOME...

• Prepare for trick-or-treaters by lighting the house well.
  
• Restrain dogs and other animals.
  
• Remove obstacles from the front yard.
  
• Give individually wrapped candy or treats.

Top 5 Halloween Home Security and Safety Tips

Halloween is almost here, and kids and adults everywhere are starting to get into the holiday spirit. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement surrounding Halloween, but it’s important to remember that there are some very real home security concerns for this holiday. Since many adults wear costumes in public and hand out candy, you may not realize when the stranger you are speaking to is actually a criminal scouting out your neighborhood. On Halloween we open our doors constantly, which is another security risk. Here are a few security tips to keep your Halloween safe and happy.
 
     1.  Don’t post your Halloween plans on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else. If the whole world knows you are going to a party, it means your house will be empty, and an easy target. If you are hosting a big party, it gives someone the opportunity to put on a costume, casually walk into your house, and rob you and you’d never be able to identify the thief.
   
     2. Leave your lights on. If you do plan to be away from home on Halloween night, leave interior and exterior lights on. Mischief makers love darkness, and the light will be a good deterrent.
   
     3.  Use caution before opening the door. Your doorbell will ring frequently, and criminals know that most homeowners let their guard down. If the people at the door seem suspicious, don’t open it. You also shouldn’t let anyone inside your home, unless you know the person well.
 
      4.  Keep pets away from the front door. The constant ringing of the doorbell, visitors, costumes and excitement can make your dog or cat anxious, or allow them to run away. Keep them safe and protected in another area of the house.
   
     5.  Don’t use real candles or fire in any Halloween decorations. Costumes and décor is very flammable, and fire is never something to play around with. Use LED lights or flameless candles in your pumpkins and decorations to keep your holiday safe and happy.

  Here’s a final tip that can help make your community’s celebration a safe one. Installing a home alarm system is always a good idea, but you can also prevent crime and mayhem before it happens. Every neighborhood watch group should have extra patrols in the neighborhood on Halloween night to deter teenagers from pulling pranks on neighbors, and to keep burglars at bay. If your friends or family live in a community without a watch group, groups neighbors can walk or drive around and patrol the community themselves. Even the appearance of foot and car traffic on this night will keep homeowners and renters safe.

Guest Blog Post - LifeShield Security