Grocery store shelves are brimming with candy, pumpkins abound and ghosts and zombies of all ages are gearing up for the big Halloween holiday. As parents prepare their children for a safe Halloween, property owners should also be thinking about safety. The folks at Delco Alarm Systems have a few tips to help you keep your neighborhood trick-or-treaters and your property safe and secure.
TAKE THE TIME TO STAY SAFE
Keep your home well lit. Illuminate your front door so costumed visitors know where you are handing out treats. Check outdoor lighting and replace any burnt-out bulbs or broken fixtures
Make sure your yard and walkways are free of trip and slip hazards. Little trick-or-treaters may miss seeing a toy, hoses or sprinkler heads in the dark and take a fall. If you are accompanying your child, bring a flashlight or use the app on your smartphone to help navigate unfamiliar territory.
Avoid using traditional candles inside of jack-o-lanterns and other decorations as they can easily catch on fire. Instead, consider using battery-operated candles to keep your home and visitors safe.
Keep your pets inside and away from the front door. If you are handing out candy, Fido may see an open door and try to escape. Strangers may also frighten your dog and cause him to become aggressive. Also make sure to to keep candy away from pets. Even a small amount of chocolate and be lethal to dogs and cats.
Depending on local curfews and customs, decide in advance a cut-off time for answering the door. If you feel uneasy about anyone who comes to your door, don’t open it. You also have the right to ask anyone you don’t want on your property to leave. If there is a problem or an emergency, hit the panic button on the keypad near your door and police will be notified.
KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON CHILDREN
Adult supervision is essential for younger trick-or-treaters. Set a time for your older children to be home and make sure they have their cell phones handy. With remote controlled locks, they won’t have to worry about carrying or losing a key. They can let themselves inside by putting in their code. Make sure to inspect all of your child’s candy. The Mayo Clinic suggests feeding your little goblin a a meal before going out and ration their loot.
If you are driving, keep an eagle eye out for children. According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a car and killed on Halloween than any other time of the year. Make sure you warn your child to stay on the sidewalk and never step out between parked cars. Urge them to wear makeup instead of a mask and carry a glow stick, which can be seen by drivers.
MISCHIEF NIGHT PRECAUTIONS
While Halloween doesn’t frighten most adults, Mischief Night can be downright scary. Oftentimes mischief makers use toilet paper or shaving cream to make a mess on your property. Sometimes, however, pranksters become vandals and can cause significant damage.
If at all possible, stay home on mischief night. If you must be away, keep the lights on and consider keeping a TV on inside of your home. Make sure your outdoor motion-sensor lights are working and your security system is set. A monitored, professionally installed smart home security system provides protection year-round, but gives homeowners an extra layer of security during holidays.
If possible, park your vehicles in the garage and make sure all doors and windows are locked.
Delco Alarm offers a full line of home automation systems, including the Securenet line of cameras which can be integrated into the Smartlink home automation app. This gives you all of the features of a smart home and can be controlled from any smartphone with internet access.
Delco Alarm Systems cares about your safety and the safety of our community. Taking the time to make sure your family, friends and home are safe and have a happy and joyous holiday season.