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It feels like New Year's Day was only last week, but now it's October and we’re about to celebrate Halloween and enter the Holiday season. Across the US, Halloween has traditionally been celebrated with elaborate and creative costume ideas, parties, and, of course, trick or treating. Even in these times of Covid, we can still expect to find Halloween trick or treaters in the streets.  We can expect the streets to be filled with trick-or-treaters and their custodians. In that same spirit, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you and those around you stay safe this holiday. 

1. If you’re expecting guests or trick-or-treaters, keep your driveway, stairs, and sidewalk clear and well-lit. If you plan to decorate your yard, ensure there are no trip-hazards as the last thing you’d want is for someone to fall and injure themself on your property. If you’re not open to visitors, leave your porch light off so that kids can know you’re not ‘open for business.’ 
2. If you’ve got pets, make sure they are properly restrained. The excitement of Halloween can cause your pets to behave uncharacteristically and even attempt to harm visitors. Keep your pets securely confined in your home or behind pet gates or crates to eliminate the possibility of trick or treaters getting scared, bitten, or scratched. 
3. If you’re planning to share out some candy, opt for store-bought treats that are individually wrapped. Many parents are skeptical of homemade goodies and store-bought candy allows them to identify anything that may set off their child’s food allergies. You might also think about leaving the candy out for trick-or-treaters to help themselves, especially considering that we’re still in a pandemic, but tampered candy is a real Halloween danger and the best way to avoid it is to share out the candy yourself. The added bonus is that you get to see all of the amazing, unique, and creative costumes that’ll show up at your door.
4. Beware of fire hazards. Candles and lit jack-o-lanterns make for great Halloween decorations, but they also pose a fire risk, especially for children and those wearing long, flowing costumes. To eliminate the hazard entirely, use battery-operated candles or glow-sticks instead. If you do use a candle, exercise caution by lighting the candle once it’s inside your jack-o-lantern and keeping it well away from trick-or-treaters and small children.

Halloween is one of those times of year that children often look forward to and it can even be enjoyable for adults and parents too. Unfortunately, it's also a time of year when many accidents can happen. As an adult, it's your responsibility to not only ensure your kids/wards are safe but that you provide a safe environment that others can enjoy trick-or-treating in. Follow the tips above to make this Halloween a safe and enjoyable one. Happy trick-or-treating!