Homeowner Tips for Halloween Safety in Florida

It is important that you keep a number of precautions in mind when preparing your home for Halloween. To learn more, continue reading, and give our skilled Hillsborough County slip and fall lawyer a call today.

Be sure your property is adequately lit.

Replace burned-out bulbs in exterior lights. If needed, put in more lights in the front yard to avoid people tripping over something they can’t see. If you will not be home for trick-or-treating, turn your lights off to discourage children from coming onto your property.

Be sure your walkways are clear.

Make sure that all walkways and the front yard are neat and clutter-free to prevent falls. Put your car in the garage. Lock your garage doors. Clean wet leaves from sidewalks and stairs. Move bikes, garden hoses, potted plants, and skateboards away from areas that are likely to be walked on by groups of people. Decorative items and jack-o-lanterns should also be placed at a safe distance from crowds to prevent people from knocking them over or tripping on them. Keep in mind that kids usually run from house to house and they don’t always stay on sidewalks, so, if you’re setting up a display, make sure it is well-lit and visible. If you are making a lawn display make sure to keep walkways clear. Furthermore, do not run cords over sidewalks where people might trip over them or harm themselves.

All lighting should be grounded.

Try not to overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or portable decorative objects. All outdoor lighting should be grounded, including low-voltage outdoor security lights and any Halloween lights. You will only want to use concealed electric outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).

When it comes to jack-o-lanterns, safety first.

If you would like to use candles in your jack-o-lanterns, keep them far away from direct walkways. This will help reduce fire hazards, such as costumes, props, or decorations catching on fire. A great option to open flames is to use battery-powered light sources or light sticks.

Be sure your trick-or-treaters are visible to drivers.

Add reflector strips to your child’s costume, or have them carry a flashlight or light stick to make them more visible at night. This will not only ensure they are seen by drivers, but will also help you keep an eye on them if they end up getting too far ahead.

Assure you have home security.

If you will be away from your home during Halloween, you will want to arm your security system before you leave. This is a common time of year for mischief and burglaries. To enhance your home’s safety, you can also activate motion-sensitive lights and notify your neighbors that you will not be home.

Test Your Smoke Alarms.

With jack-o-lanterns being common around Halloween, you will want to test your smoke alarms before Halloween celebrations happen.

Keep your pets inside.

Pets are typically scared on Halloween, so keeping them inside will shield them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater. Give our skilled Riverview personal injury lawyer a call today if you have any questions.