Can you feel it? It’s that time of year when everything gets a little colder, the air gets crisper, and those warm, familiar aromas fill stores and homes. Pumpkin spice, fall colours, the amazing display from our foliage. October also means we’re seeing decorations going up for Halloween. Lights, sounds, spooky creatures – it’s all fun and games, and I know we all want it to stay that way!
I have a few tips to make sure your home is a safe and secure spot this year – for yourself, and the trick-or-treaters knocking on your door!
- Make sure to keep an eye on the load on your electricity circuit if you’re hanging lots of lights! I also recommend using energy efficient light bulbs, avoiding flammable and heat-sensitive surfaces, and using safe plugs and adaptors to avoid overheating. You can also invest in solar lights, or led bulbs for loose lighting instead of candles – and this includes that ol’ Jack-O-Lantern. Fallen candles are quick to start a fire, and energy-efficient LEDs are a much safer option.
- If you have a storm door installed, keep it open with a doorstop or tie the handle to a fixed post so that trick-or-treaters don’t slam it repeatedly or get struck by it.
- Unfortunately in this day and age, Halloween often attracts unwanted visitors – so you want to make sure that your property is secure and all valuable items are safely stored once the fun is over. A great way to deter unwanted visitors is by installing motion-sensor lights on the exterior of your home, alerting you to any suspicious activity.
- Now is the time to tighten up those loose fixtures such as railings, patio steps, and pillars – these are safety hazards at the best of times, and even more so with increased traffic from trick-or-treaters.
- No matter the weather, you know that stairways and staircases become slippery with increased traffic – a great way to secure these areas is by using friction tape, a simple and effective way to avoid slip and fall injuries.
- If your yard or pathways are dark and there are any hidden trip hazards make sure you are adding extra lighting – whether in the form of a pumpkin or a strip of LED lights.
- Considering everything we’ve all gone through in the past couple of years, you may also want to prepare the candy or goodies in a way that allows you to hand them out in a safe manner – perhaps by using tongs, or a chute made of a plastic downpipe. No contact means less potential to transmit any illnesses.
Halloween is an evening of fun, spooks, screams, and laughter – let’s ensure your home is safe for everyone this year.