How to be safe using Halloween security PART 2

• ·        Check all treats before eating. Children should have their treats checked by adults before they eat them. Just to be safe, you might even want to consider tossing out anything that doesn’t come in a pre-wrapped package.

• ·        Light up the night. Make your children easily visible with flashlights or glow sticks. Some restaurants and fast food places even give away transparent bags for candy that include a glow stick you can put inside the bag. This limits the amount of things your child has to carry, but allows you to easily view them.

• ·        Consider an alternative to trick-or-treat. You don’t have to take your children out to collect candy from strangers. Instead, you might take them to a haunted house or a hay ride. If you do take them out, consider taking them to friends and relatives so you don’t have to worry about what they may get in their bag.

• ·        Host your own Halloween. If you want to be able to keep your home and children safe at the same time, consider having your own Halloween party. This will allow you to choose what they get for Halloween and who they are around.

• ·        Adjust your security camera settings. If you have security cameras, you may want to adjust the areas that they are focused on. For instance, you might want to keep cameras on the doors and windows, but you also might want to put some focus on the streets around your house so that if any pranks are pulled, you can see where they came from and maybe even see who did them. Toilet paper rolls can be thrown from the street, as can eggs and other creative items.

• Make use of your timers. If you have timers on your lights, take care to have specific rooms light up every now and then. For instance, leave the living room light and television on, but use a timer to light up the kitchen light every now and then so that it looks like there are people in the house going to get a snack every now and then.

• Arm your security system. The excitement of getting ready for Halloween plans may make us forget to take simple safety precautions. Make sure to arm your security system (and lock doors and windows) before you leave your home.

• ·        Check the charge. If your child has a cell phone, make sure it is fully charged. You might also want to make sure that he or she is in an area with good signal reception. 

• ·        Check your security system on a regular basis. A high quality wireless security system will allow you to check in on your security system on Halloween from your phone. You can even get alerts to let you know if something is happening in your home. While you can also do this from a computer, you probably don’t want to carry your laptop as you take your kids out hunting for candy.

• ·        Never go trick-or-treating alone. Make sure that there is an adult or a responsible, older youth accompanying young children.
• ·        Know the area you are going to be in. Plan where the trick-or-treating will begin and end.
• ·        Remind your trick-or-treaters of common Halloween rules. Do not approach houses that do not look safe or do not have a light on and do not go inside any homes. Look both ways before crossing the street and walk, do not run, to the next house. Halloween safety

• ·        Instead of masks, use face paint. Masks tend to get bumped out of place, potentially blocking vision or breathing.
• ·        Check the length of your child’s costume. If it is too long, it could become a trip hazard. Also pay attention to special details on costumes, especially tails that can get wrapped around a leg or other objects.
• ·        Trim trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape and if your child’s costume is all black or a darker color, trim the sides of it so they will be more visible. Carrying a flashlight will also help drivers to see children better as well as help keep the trick-or-treater from walking where there are hazards.
• ·        Accessories need to be safe. Swords, knives and other items should be made from cardboard or a soft material.

• ·        Although it may be tempting for children to snack on candy while trick-or-treating, it is better to wait until they get home. An adult should go through the treats and throw out anything that looks as though it has been tampered with or is not in the original packaging. Pay attention to ingredients while you are sorting. Some candy may not be suitable for younger children.
• ·        Accept and give out candy that isn't easily unwrapped.  Candies with twist-type wrappings can be tampered with more easily than those that are sealed.
• ·        Try to stay in an area where you know the people handing out the treats. While most people have good intentions, do not accept home-made treats.
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• ·        Leave the pumpkin carving to the adults. Children can participate by cleaning out the pumpkin. Painted pumpkins are a fun and creative time for kids and much safer.
• ·        Carve in a dry, well-lit area. You don’t want your pumpkin slipping off of a wet table and potentially injuring someone.
• ·        Pick your carving utensils carefully. There are special pumpkin carving utensils that have a better handle to grip on to. Do not use extra-long knives because the tip may come out the other side and hit your hand.