Halloween can be the creepiest, the scariest, and one of the most fun nights of the year–but when Halloween rolls around, you want to make sure that you’re left with treats and not
tricks. Sta
ying safe on Halloween is important, whether you’re a parent taking your kids trick-or-treating or a student hosting a Halloween party–and this means protecting not only yourself and your family, but your house, as well (or your laboratory in the castle east, as it may be). Here are a few of the best tips we have to offer on Halloween safety for your house!
- Be attentive to fire. Halloween can be a fun time to light candles to set a spooky mood, whether it’s votive candles inside of a jack-o-lantern or a creepy wrought-iron candelabra in the hall. However, if you’re not attentive at all times, these fun fires can turn into something much less fun–fast. If you’re going to light candles or have any other kind of fire, be sure that you do so away from curtains, walkways, fake cobwebs, and other places where clothing or other flammable materials might catch the flame–and be sure never to leave a flame unattended! If you’d like to keep the ambiance without the worry, consider using electric lighting.
- Check your yard. If you’re accepting trick-or-treaters, make sure that you give them a safe place to walk. Even if you have lights turned on, your yard will be darker than it usually is, so be sure that no tripping hazards or other dangerous items are left out. If you don’t want trick-or-treaters to come to your door, but you’re worried about leaving it completely dark, consider installing motion-sensor lighting to cover the areas of your yard that are easiest for potential pranksters to hide in.
- Check all your locks. Halloween is fun, but it can also bring out some unsavory behavior. Not everyone has the money or space to build a full-scale zombie apocalypse bunker complete with three years’ worth of supplies and that one guy who thinks that sneaking out alone is a good idea, but it’s important to secure what you do have. Make sure that all the locks in your house are in good working order. If you’re having trick-or-treaters or a party, you can unlock doors that you will monitor, but be sure that other doors and windows remain locked. This will help keep pranksters out (but we make no guarantees when it comes to vampires).
- Follow your instincts. Though it may be packed with candy, your gut is still good to listen to. If something seems wrong or feels off, check it out–or call someone for help. Being scared can be fun when the intentions are good, and that’s part of what Halloween is all about! But you shouldn’t have to put yourself at risk. When you trust your instincts and take steps to make sure you, your family, and your house are all protected, we hope you’ll be able to have a fun and safe Halloween!
