A Safe and Spooktacular Halloween: for you, your kids and your home

Halloween is right around the corner and I bet you've decked the house out with cobwebs, pumpkins and more. You've also made sure that your little ones (or big ones) have the most ghoulish costumes on the block. You have the candy, check. You have the creepy music, check. You even have a costume for the family pet, double check!

You have made sure that everyone is going to have a spooktacular Halloween...

But have you reviewed your safety checklist to make sure that you, your kids, and your home will be safe on this most wicked of nights?
We don't want to snuff out your jack-o-lantern or poison the candy corn, but Halloween can be quite dangerous. Already, Halloween doubles a child's odds of being struck by a vehicle! On this night, accidental falls are the leading cause of injuries at the E.R. and mobile devices are primarily to blame!  And those fabulously haunting decorations? Like a Christmas tree on Christmas, your dried cornstalks and crepe paper will light up the room if not kept away from open flames (like candles)!

To help make your Halloween fright night more fun than frightful, Maricopa Meadows Blockwatch put together this guide of Halloween Safety Tips for you, your kids and your home:


Simple Safety Tips for You:

1. Plan out a route in advance - Include paths that you are most familiar with to avoid dark alleys or getting lost in the dark. Getting lost in the dark could cause major panic and once you’re at this stage, your alertness wavers, which can cause you (and your children) to become an easy target.

2. Bring your own flashlight - Make sure its high-powered. Make sure to stay well-lit so that the kids can find you when they finish trick-or-treating. Also, if something looks off, shine a light on it to make sure its safe to proceed.

3. Use reflective tape or clothing - Just like you made sure your kids are visible at night to drivers, you should also wear reflective tape on your arms and legs or wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you too.

4. Be a safe pedestrian - You have your flashlight and your reflective tape on, now just remember to walk only on designated walkways, pay attention to traffic and do not approach homes with no lights on. No sidewalk or path, no problem. Simply make sure to walk as far to the right of the street and ALWAYS face traffic.

5. Know your info - in the event of being separated, make sure you have your kids' costume description, their height, weight, etc. along with your contact info in your phone and pinned to your clothing somewhere (in case you are not responsive). Also have your name and contact info pinned to the inside of your kids' costumes for the same reason. 

6. Download the Maricopa Police Dept. App - It just rolled out and is available for Android and Apple. If you see something, say something...or in this case, share something via the Police Mobile App. It's quick and easy to report non-emergency events. Always dial 911 in the event you have an emergency.

For the kiddos:

Now that you and the kids are squared away, let's talk about those Halloween decorations inside and outside your home!

Halloween Safety Tips for your home:

1. Most decorations are highly flammable. Keep them well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.

2. It's highly recommended to use batteries, glow-sticks or led lights instead of real flame for pumpkins, candles, etc. But if you prefer the real thing, just makes sure to keep children away from the exposed flame, keep jack-o-lanterns away from flammable objects, out of the way of walkways, doors and entryways.

3. Make sure to keep exits clear of decorations to not block escape routes in the event of an emergency. 

4. Having a party or passing out candy? Make sure that your home and entryway are well lit and free of tripping or fire hazards. A well lit home tells trick-or-treaters that it's safe to approach and they can see what's ahead from the street. Also make sure any decorative lights you plan to use have been tested by a recognized lab (UL), and also to make sure the lights’ sockets, wires and connectors are in good working order before use.

5. Clean up your yard. Remove all tripping hazards like debris, and holes in the ground. Pick up any debris and fill in those holes. Also trim back the overgrown shrubs. Kids often cut across yards running from house to house. So put away those bikes, toys and tools that have been left out!

6. Confine those pets! After July 4th, Halloween is the next biggest night for pets to go missing. The constant doorbell ringing and kids excitement will make any pet anxious enough to dart at the first opportunity. Confining your pets does not mean putting them in the back yard. In fact, most dogs will easily escape their yards by digging out and even jumping the fence! Place pets inside a closed room or tucked away in a comfortable kennel covered with a blanket to minimize exposure to stimuli. If your pet does get lost, immediately post to PetSocialWorker.org and check with your neighbors right away. As soon as you can, post flyers with contact info around your neighborhood and follow up with Pinal County Animal Control to see if anyone found your beloved pet.

Have a safe and spooktacular Halloween!