Tips to Keep Kids & Homes Safe This Halloween: October 2012

Halloween is a favorite time of year for us here at My Alarm Center Home Security Services, and we know it’s a favorite among our customers. 

At the end of a successful Halloween night, our kids are back home, glowing over their hit of a costume and comparing trick-or-treat bags stuffed to the brim.  Thanks to modern home security solutions from My Alarm Center, our homes are safe and nothing is missing – except for the candy we intended to give away, that is!

To ensure that’s the kind of night kids and parents experience once again this Halloween, the folks here at My Alarm Center have put together some tips to keep kids safe while out trick-or-treating in homes and neighborhoods, and to keep homes safe and personal property secure.

First, make sure to take advantage of tips posted by your local police department – which often list crime prevention recommendations specific to enjoying Halloween festivities in your area. For example, the Seattle Police Department lists a series of tips on their web site that includes recommendations like knowing your treater’s route for the evening, and making sure jack-o-lanterns and anything with an open flame is safely out of the way in areas where treaters might get crowded, to avoid a hazard.

The Philly Police Blog –  by the Philadelphia Police Department – published a great list this year aptly named “13 Commonsense Tips for Making Halloween Safe for Everyone.”  Tips include checking to make sure treaters’ masks aren’t obstructing vision, and even considering hosting or attending a Halloween party for those looking for an alternative to trick-or-treating.

Some areas –  like Bergen County and Passaic County in New Jersey – have been enforcing curfews, as reported here by CBS. Although not ideal, this helps ensure kids are safe in areas where crime has risen around this time of year, and makes sure kids are accompanied by a parent or guardian after dark.

For more tips, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s web site this October, which just so happens to be National Crime Prevention Month!  Here, you can even find links to printable posters and games by crime fighting dog McGruff – a fun way for kids to learn how to stay safe this Halloween.

If everyone in your household is headed out this October 31st, then make sure the only spooky things worth mentioning are your costumes by taking a few small precautions to ensure your home is secure.

Oh, and one last tip…Have a great time and a happy Halloween!

-Your Friends at My Alarm Center