Halloween is an exciting holiday for both children and adults. Who doesn’t like dressing up, celebrating, and eating candy? However, taking safety precautions on Halloween is crucial, trick-or-treating, choosing costumes, and attending or hosting parties. In this article, we will delve into various Halloween safety measures designed to ensure the security of you and your loved ones.
Decorating for Halloween
For those who take part in the decorating side of Halloween, such as pumpkin carving, remember that small children can join the fun using markers and crayons but should never be allowed to carve the pumpkin. Furthermore, remember to only carve pumpkins on a flat surface using appropriate tools.
To prevent fires, we recommend using glow sticks or flashlights for pumpkin lighting rather than burning candles. In addition, it’s essential to maintain a clear and unobstructed porch and walkways of your house to minimize tripping hazards for visitors. Homeowners should always ensure adequate lighting is available for trick-or-treaters and take measures to replace any bulbs that have burned out.
Choosing a Costume
As Halloween festivities typically occur after dark, it’s important to choose bright and reflective attire. If necessary, add additional reflective tape or striping for greater visibility. Don’t forget that you can add this tape to trick-or-treat bags as well. Avoid wearing oversized heels and ensure everyone has shoes that fit correctly and clothing that doesn’t touch the ground to prevent tripping hazards.
If your costume requires makeup or face paint, be mindful that non-toxic, mineral-based products will be the safer option. Many face paints and makeup products contain lead and other harmful metals and toxins. If possible, avoid makeup altogether and choose a costume with a mask. In addition to keeping your skin safe, this will only make for an easier clean-up after a long, tiring night of candy collecting.
If you choose to wear hats or wigs, be sure the items are flame-resistant and fit appropriately without blocking you or your children’s eyesight. Masks should fit securely while providing adequate ventilation and appropriate-sized eye holes, so vision is always clear. For the safety of everyone, any accessories, such as swords, canes, or knives, should be soft and flexible and not sharp or too long.
Planning the Trick-or-Treating Route
An adult should always accompany younger children when making rounds to collect candy. If older children go unsupervised, give at least one child access to a cellphone, and be sure to plan an acceptable route together. The route should be well-lit and have sidewalks available. Set a time for checking in and returning home.
The risk of a pedestrian fatality is 43% higher on Halloween, according to a study done by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Therefore, taking additional precautions and establishing safety guidelines in advance is crucial in preparation for Halloween night.
Checking Candy
At the end of the night, adults should go through the collected treats and remove any that are not age-appropriate and appear to have been tampered with or not in proper packaging. To prevent a possible sugar overload, plan to have a good meal before heading out for a fun-filled Halloween night. If you or your child has a food allergy, make sure to check labels on all candy items and dispose of any home-baked goods you might have received.
Host Liquor Liability
At Deland, Gibson, we often get asked this time of year, “What is the liability involved with hosting a party, and does my homeowners insurance cover host liquor liability?” The short answer is that it can depend on the policy, but consumers may often find themselves interested in pursuing additional liquor liability insurance.
If you plan to host a Halloween party this season, it’s essential to brush up on the associated risks involved. While homeowners’ insurance can provide some coverage for the risks associated with a social gathering, having proper protection for your party or event can significantly reduce your liability and provide you with peace of mind. To learn more about this topic, check out our previous blog post on Host Liquor Liability.
Concerns with Drinking & Driving
A significant concern with Halloween parties is the host’s liability for guests who may drink alcohol and choose to drive home. Should a guest drink at your party and have an accident while driving, the host could be found liable by either the guest themselves or a third party if involved in the accident. If a third party was injured in an accident where the responsible party had been served alcohol, the third party could pursue damages against the host as the one responsible for serving the driver alcohol. As the host of the party where alcohol was served, this can present a significant risk and a liability that your homeowner’s insurance may not cover.
During Halloween night during the years 2016-2020, 129 people were killed in drunk-driving accidents, according to NHTSA.
If you are hosting a celebration, you should ensure that no one who consumes alcohol will be driving a vehicle. If you are attending a celebration and plan to drink alcohol, arrange for a sober driver to take you home.
Providing Peace of Mind Through Proactive Service
Deland, Gibson: a Trusted Choice, Five Star Accredited independent insurance agency. Established in Massachusetts in 1900, Deland, Gibson is a 4th generation family-run insurance agency that has thrived working as a trusted advisor for its client base. We work with individuals and businesses to lower their Total Cost of Risk. We analyze a client’s direct and indirect costs and implement risk reduction plans to address areas of business, hazard, or strategic risk.
