Top Halloween Safety Tip Sheet│PA Home Security

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to the safety of our children. Halloween is one of the few nights when most of the kids in your neighborhood are all out at once. For children, Halloween is one of the most anticipated nights of the year. It is also one of the most dangerous.

If you are going to celebrate Halloween, consider these facts and tips to stay safe.

Halloween Facts

• The number of pedestrian fatalities and auto related injuries are highest on Halloween.
• A child is twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
• Non-auto related injuries as well as incidents of vandalism and malicious mischief also rise on October 31^st.
• The incidence of abduction does not rise on Halloween, though the risk of abduction is always real and serious on any day of the year.
• There has never been a documented case of a child ingesting tainted Halloween candy, though product tampering can and does occur. Parents should always be cautious.
• Halloween brings more visitors to your property than any other day of the year. It also brings a rise in lawsuits concerning injury due to trip and fall relating to unlit and unkempt steps and cracked walkways.

If you are going to be out in your PA neighborhood on Halloween, observe these important safety practices to ensure that your evening is filled with nothing but fun.

Important Safety Tips to Keep Kids Safe on Halloween

1. Consider planning or attending safe alternate celebrations that keep kids in one place and among trusted friends, such as a school festival.
2. Always accompany children
3. Stay in groups at all times. Consider forming a “Halloween posse” for the safety of all those involved
4. Choose well-fitting and fireproof costumes
5. Choose light colored costumes or add reflective tape to the front and back of costume
6. Choose face make-up over a mask
7. Wear well-fitting and comfortable shoes
8. Carry flashlights
9. Decorate bags and costume accessories with reflective tape
10. Observe pedestrian rules at all times
11. Go to only well-lit houses
12. Inspect all candy to make sure it is unopened and safe for your child
13. Drive slowly and expect kids to be darting from behind cars and into the street, and avoid driving when possible
14. Watch costumes around candle lit jack o’ lanterns
15. Browse state websites for local registered sex offenders and avoid those addresses

PA Home Security Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Safe on Halloween

1. Make sure the walkway is in good repair and free of cracks
2. Ensure the walkway leading to your home is free of obstacles, such as hoses, garden tools, toys, or Halloween decorations
3. Keep the pathway and doorway of your home well-lit
4. Confine pets to a bedroom with the door closed
5. Use battery operated candles for jack o’ lanterns
6. Restrict black cats indoors for a few days up to and through Halloween to avoid mischief or harm
7. Report any suspicious activity to local authorities
8. Make sure valuables are not visible from the doorway when you answer the door
9. Be sure not to overload electrical sockets with automated Halloween decorations and use only safe extension cords
10. If you leave the home for the evening, turn on your home security alarm system to protect your home from intrusion or other mischief

If you have questions about how to improve your home security, Give JM Resources a call. We have over 30 years’ experience serving in the King of Prussia, PA area and beyond.