Rob Smashnuk

The time of year has arrived where face paint flies off the shelves and spooky DIY The projects are well underway. From ghosts, goblins and witches to the latest pop-culture heroes and villains, this is the time of year where creativity hits an all time high as people far and wide celebrate the spookiest season of all, Halloween! While collecting candy and trying to get a scare out of your friends and family is all fun and games, worrying about the safety of your home and guests isn’t. See below for some Halloween home safety tips that will help you ensure the only thing scarier than your costume is the thought of your expanding waistline after consuming endless amounts of sugary treats!

Make a Clear Path for Guests

With costumes that include fancy wigs, complicated masks and endless accessories, eliminating obstacles is the main safety tip you need to keep in mind. Whether it’s clearing the walkway or eliminating debris from your lawn, a clear path to your front door will help you avoid any potential accidents and is one of our top Halloween home safety tips.

Avoid Accidents with Lighting

With the shorter days upon us, your guests will not be showing up until long after the sun goes down. Help them stay on course by lighting up the path to your door. Whether a couple pumpkins or some strategically placed string lights, a well-lit entryway will not only make it easier to choose your favorite costume, it will help keep everyone safe.

LED Candle vs. Real Candle

We just told you to ensure the pathway to your door is well lit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a candle! LED tea lights are a great option for your outdoor décor that will look just as spooky as a candle, but will take away the fear of lighting a pumpkin on fire! These are also a good option for your indoor décor since you may not have the opportunity to keep a close watch on a candle burning inside your home throughout the night.

Keep Furry Friends Safe

Halloween is an exciting time, and my Halloween home safety tips aren’t only for you, but also your pets! To avoid them escaping, getting into the candy, or getting scared of your visitors, keeping them locked away in a safe room for the evening is advisable. Since they don’t get to enjoy all the fun, leaving them a Halloween treat will keep them happy until the activity has subsided.

Be a Smarty with the “Smarties”

If you are unable to come to the door when Trick-or-Treater’s arrive, or you will not be home to handout treats, leaving a bowl full of treats is not a good idea. Not only will it encourage people to come to your door when you aren’t there, it increases the risk of someone trying to tamper with the treats you have left out. A quick sign at the bottom of your driveway may be a good option and don’t forget to remind them you will see them next year!

Over the years that you’ve owned laptops, smartphones, tablets, speakers, and other portable electronic devices, you have probably accumulated a number of electrical adapters, and may even have kept them for potential use on a replacement device. This can be dangerous. Most portable devices have specific types of batteries that require very specific power input. Incompatible pairings can cause severe damage, as well as render a device’s warranty null and void. Each adapter delivers a precise amount of electricity from a standard 120 volt AC wall plug by calibrating the electricity so it is compatible with the lower voltage DC batteries within the specified device it is designed to power. An improper match could cause hazardous overheating or frustrating underperformance, compromising delicate circuitry. For this reason, it’s risky to presume that older adapters with matching fittings are actually safe for your device, especially if you’re travelling to countries with different electrical systems. Fortunately, newer adapters that use USB connections tend to have a broader range of compatibility, although you should always follow manufacturers’ guidelines before usage.