Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips for Homeowners

9 Tips to Prepare for a Successful Trick-Or-Treat Night!

Preparing for Tuesday nights Lebanon County wide Trick-or-Treat night is about more than just buying a bucket load of candy. Some Halloween tricks can really cost you, and while plenty of people love a good scare, it is important that no one gets hurt. And that includes your house.

Follow these 9 tips for Trick-or-Treat safety:

#1 Make Your Outdoor Lights as Bright as Possible

Check the label on your outdoor light fixtures and use the highest wattage bulbs they can safely handle. You can always switch them back after the holiday for a softer glow.

#2 Pick a Good Spot

If you have a lot of stairs or a long, winding path, consider handing out candy at the end of your driveway or sitting on your front porch.

If staying indoors keep the screen or storm door propped open so it doesn’t get in the way when kids are on your stoop. Yellow caution tape can do the trick while keeping with the Halloween theme.

#3 Clear the Walkways and Comb Your Yard

Toys, rakes, errant stones, potted plants and even jack-o-lanterns should be cleared out of the way before trick-or-treating starts. Keep walkways steps and stoops clear of obstructions so that no one accidentally stumbles on them. This includes leaves, especially wet leaves which can be slippery.

Usually, kiddos will stay on the sidewalks and driveways, but they may wander into your yard. Clear out sticks, sprinklers, extension cords and other tripping hazards from your lawn for the most safety.

#4 Use LED Lights Instead of Real Candles

We all know the danger of using real candles with a flame in decorations like carved pumpkins or paper lanterns; they are a fire waiting to happen. LED-bulb faux candles are much safer, and the light looks a lot like the real thing. Before your purchase Halloween decorative lights, be sure to look for safety certifications such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories).

#5 Use Motion Lights After the Trick-or-Treaters Have Left

When the trick-or-treaters go home, the vandals often come out. Motion sensor lights that illuminate the whole house can help scare away any mischief makers.

#6 Tighten Railings

Fixing wobbly or broken porch railings is a trick-or-treat safety must. They can cause severe injuries if anyone leans on them a little too hard.

#7 Corral Your Pets

With all the doorbells and visitors, Halloween can be stressful for your animals. Even a well-behaved pet can bite or scratch when they feel anxious. A constantly opening door makes it easy for furry friends to escape too. Keep pets in a secured room or area of the house.

#8 Making Glow Sticks a No-Go

Poison control centers see a surge in calls on Halloween. And many of those calls are about glow stick poisoning. The liquid on glow sticks can cause irritation and vomiting, so make sure to tell kids to keep them away from their mouths. And when it comes to especially young kids, you might want to pass on handing out glow sticks all together.

#9 Keep Pedestrians Safe

Here’s a scary statistic: on average, over two times as many child pedestrians die on Halloween compared to other days, according to the Children’s Safety Network. Or all the trick-or-treat safety guidelines, this one could be the most important.

Reduce risks to little pedestrians by clearing parked cars from the curb for better visibility and placing a reflective “Watch for Children” sign at the edge of the road. On busy streets, consider having adults take turns maintaining safety in the street with a hand-held traffic control light.