Halloween means pumpkin carving, candy, and costumes for most people, but it also means making sure your home and loved ones are safe! As fun and exciting as Halloween is, it’s also a time of year that’s prone to higher rates of burglary and theft.
In fact, according to Travelers Insurance, there is a 15% increase in theft related claims on Halloween than other days of the year. It’s important to prepare your home for both the safety of potential trick-or-treaters and any potential threats.
We’ve rounded up 5 great safety tips for Halloween to help you get started:
Tip 1: Keep Track of Who’s Coming and Going
As we mentioned earlier, crime rates tend to be higher on Halloween night, so it’s important to monitor your home and keep track of who’s coming and going. On a busy Halloween night, some homes can expect dozens or even hundreds of trick-or-treaters, which is a lot of activity to keep track of.
That’s why we recommend keeping your doors, windows, and other possible entries locked and secured at all times. You’ll be able to focus your energy on your front door without having to worry about the other entrances to your home.
For that extra bit of peace of mind, it’s a good idea to install Notion Sensors on your doors, windows, and garage. Notion’s alert notifications are sent directly to your phone, so you’ll always be informed of activity the moment it happens.
Tip 2: Use LED Lights Instead of Candles
Halloween night can often be quite hectic, especially if you have to make any last-minute costume or decoration changes! As a result, it can be easy to forget about any lit candles in your home or spooky jack-o’-lanterns outside your home.
This can pose a serious fire hazard to both your home and yard. As we wrote in our fire safety guide, one of the most important rules of thumb for preventing home fires is to never leave lit candles unattended. That being said, it might be a good idea to swap out real candles with flameless LED lights this Halloween – this goes for the lights in your carved pumpkins, paper lanterns, and more.
Not only are LED lights are safer, but they also last longer and can give off similar light to candles. So don’t worry, your jack-o’-lanterns will still have the same spooky effect without any of the added risks!
When shopping for LED lights for Halloween, look for ones with a recognized “safety mark,” such as UL Listed.
Tip 3: Clear Any Debris From Your Property
The last thing you want on Halloween night is kids tripping on your driveway or trick-or-treaters trampling through your garden! While accidents can happen, it’s best to prepare your property beforehand by clearing away any debris that could become a hazard or cause a fall.
During this time of year, it’s likely that you have extra leaves on the ground and maybe some broken branches around your property.
To prevent any accidents or scraped knees, make sure to clean up the leaves, sweep away any dirt, and remove and branches from your property and driveway before the big night. This also goes for things like tools, rakes, toys, bicycles, and anything else that kids could trip over. It’s best to play it safe, and make sure that everything is stored away safely!
Finally, you’ll also want to make sure that there’s a clear and well-lit pathway from the street to your door.
Tip 4: Keep the Premise Well-Lit
Speaking of lighting, while it may be tempting to amplify the spooky-ness of your home by dimming the lights, a poorly lit entranceway can dangerous for trick-or-treaters. That’s why it’s important to keep your property well-lit by installing outdoor lighting fixtures with high wattage bulbs. At the end of the day, it’s best to play it safe and make sure your home is prepared for the occasion!
Just remember that outdoor lighting will vary based on where it’s located on your property. For example, porch lights are generally brighter than other outdoor lights. And if you’re stuck on which type of bulbs to buy for Halloween, you can consult with your local hardware store or Home Depot.
Tip 5: Keep Pets Inside
As busy as Halloween is for parents and children, it can also be overwhelming for pets. With all the noise and coming-and-going, pets can often feel unsettled and have been known to bolt out of people’s homes.
If your pets are uncomfortable with this kind of activity, it’s best to keep them in a safe place in your home, like a quiet room, a sectioned off part of your home with a pet gate, or a crate that your pet feels comfortable in.
That’s a wrap! Thanks for reading our Halloween safety tips. On behalf of the team at Notion, have a happy and safe Halloween!
