Safety During the Holidays

Halloween can be a night of real horror if you do not take certain precautions. Trick or treaters need to keep their excitement in check to stay safe while walking around neighborhoods. Homeowners need to take certain steps to protect their home if it is empty this time of year. Halloween is an exciting time, but it can also lead to an unpleasant experience if you are not careful. Keep your home and trick or treaters safe with these tips:

YOUR HOME

• MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK OCCUPIED. If you look like you are home, you will reduce the odds that your home will be vandalized. Leave lights on inside and outside your home to deter mischief making trick or treaters.

• DON’T USE CANDLES IN YOUR CARVED PUMPKINS I know, I know. You want to use candles for your carved pumpkin, but they can be a major fire hazard. Some great tea lights are a much safer option. Some come in creepy colors too for extract spookiness.

• DON’T PUT YOUR PLANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA We have said the same thing about putting vacation plans on social media. Criminals troll the social media channels to gather information on which homes will be an easy target. The same advice goes for Halloween, keep mum on social if you leave town or are out for the night.

• REMOVE VALUABLES FROM CAR. If you leave your car in the driveway, make sure everything of value is out of it. Leaving a nice iPad on the passenger seat is just tempting someone to break your window and steal it.

• REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE. Sometimes no matter how preventative you are your home or car will be broken into and your valuables were taken. Make sure you review your insurance policy and home/car inventory on a regular basis. Knowing what has been stolen will speed up the claims process.

TRICK OR TREATERS

• DRIVE EXTRA SAFELY ON HALLOWEEN. You may not have children, or your kids may be too old to trick or treat, but think of other kids when driving through neighborhoods on Halloween night. Kids are hopped up on sugar and excitement and may forget to look twice before running out in the road. Take an extra few seconds to pay attention, other parents will appreciate it.

• TRY TO MAKE COSTUMES EASY TO SEE. I know it is difficult, but these costumes are difficult to see at night. If the costumes can’t have reflective tape or stickers, make sure their trick or treat bag does so others can easily see your little gremlins. If this option works, have an adult walk with the kids while they trick or treat and carry a flashlight.