Halloween can be a great time to have fun, get creative and spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, there are many risks that can be far scarier than little ghosts, goblins and the Great Pumpkin.
Whether you are celebrating at work, at home, the mall or the local neighborhood, take some of these safety tips to heart. Help make sure everyone has a happy AND safe Halloween.
Make Way for the Candy Inspector
- Never eat unwrapped candy or treats that appear to have been tampered with or are expired. Throw away suspicious sweets.
- Go to trusted candy sources: friends, family, neighbors, places of work.
Allergies: Not Just Sneezes and Sniffles
- Some individuals have allergies to peanuts or other foods. Consider having some treats that are considered allergy-safe, if possible.
See and Be Seen
- Masks can be a great complement to a costume, but make sure that vision is not impaired.
- Carry a good flashlight. This will help avoid trip/fall hazards, and it will help ensure visibility to others.
- If you will be out in the dark, consider wearing a light-colored costume, applying reflective tape, or attaching light reflecting material or objects to costumes.
Listen and Be Heard
- Masks, wigs, and outfits help bring a costume together, but sometimes they can cause problems like the ability to hear well. Ensure everyone can hear each other as well as what is going on around them.
- Be alert. Watch out for vehicles, other pedestrians, cyclists, animals and your general surroundings.
Be a Good Driver
- Drive sober, no excuses.
- No distractions, and put the cell phone away.
- Be aware of surroundings, pedestrians, animals and other potential hazards coming on to the roadway.
- If driving a group, make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelts.
Be a Good Pedestrian
- Don’t text and walk and be careful when using your cell phone. Being distracted could lead to trips, falls or much worse.
- Keep the group together, no stragglers.
Be Accident-Free
- Watch out for trip/fall hazards. If you see something at work, notify the appropriate personnel. If you can address the issue (moving trip hazards, cleaning up a spill), do so to help keep others safe.
- Remove/Move furniture, lawn décor or any other items that could pose a safety risk.
Fire Safety: Move Over, Smoky the Bear
- Consider using battery-powered candles in your jack-o’-lanterns to protect from fire danger.
- If candles are used, keep them away from pathways and flammable materials to ensure no one trips and nothing catches fire.
- Extinguish any candles, campfires, etc. before leaving/going to bed. Make sure there are no live embers.
- Have a fire extinguisher at the ready — always.
Make It a Get-Together
- There is safety in numbers and when darkness falls, stay on well-lit streets.
- Stay together and cross only at crosswalks and corners and never from between parked cars where visibility is poor.When walking around, make sure everyone stays with the group.
Unwelcome Ghouls
- Thieves and others up to no good often choose holidays for their evil deeds. The chaos of Halloween, the costumes, the parties, the empty houses, can create opportunity for such ghouls. Keep outdoor lights on and consider keeping a few inside lights on as well.
- Make sure doors are locked and windows are secured for the house, car and work.
When Bad Things Happen
- Sometimes, we take all the precautions we can and bad things still happen. Make sure you have the proper insurances for home, work and health.
Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends: Pet Safety Matters, too!
- Keep your pets indoors. Halloween may be fun for many, but it can be a stressor for pets.
- Candy is for the kids (and the kids-at-heart) but can be a danger to pets (Did you know chocolate is poisonous to dogs?).
- At least for Halloween, it is probably best to keep the kids and the pets separate to avoid any problems for either.
We each can do our part to make sure work and home are safe places for ourselves, our co-workers and our families.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
