The Lawhead Team would like to share the following information from SafeWise to make your home safe for the cute ghosts and goblins this Halloween.

The Lawhead Team wishes everyone a safe and spooktacular Halloween! 

1. Secure railings
Young children, and the adults who often accompany them, will need the security and support of railings while climbing steps to get to your front door. If you’ve been putting off fixing that rickety railing, Halloween is the time to get out the toolbox and make it secure.
2. Clear walkways
Trick-or-treaters are too busy counting candy to pay close attention to where they’re walking, so it’s critical to survey your yard for potential trip and slip hazards. Be sure your yard is free of tripping hazards like hoses and sprinklers, clear walkways of loose gravel, and be sure to clean moss off steps. If your home has an irrigation system, turn the system off well in advance of the big night so your lawn and walkways have a chance to dry.
3. Avoid using candles
A glowing jack-o’-lantern makes your home warm and welcoming to candy seekers, but using a candle to illuminate a pumpkin can be dangerous. Costumes, paper decorations and ornamental straw can easily catch on fire. Instead of a traditional candle, use one powered by batteries.
4. Consider candy choices
No doubt buying Halloween candy is fun, but keep in mind that not all candy is appropriate for every child. Avoid candy that poses a choking hazard for toddlers, and keep in mind that a number of children have peanut allergies. Even if the candy doesn’t contain peanuts, it could be made in a facility that handles peanuts. Check the candy bag’s label for a peanut allergy warning.
5. Use lots of lights
A dimly lit entryway helps set the spooky mood of Halloween, but it’s also increases the chance of an accident. Make sure the exterior lights of your home are working, and consider turning on flood lights to illuminate the darkest areas of your yard. Even if you’re not going to be home, leave on lights for safety reasons and to dissuade unsavory characters from vandalizing your home. And, if you won’t be there, make sure you set your security system, just to be safe.
6. Contain your pets
Barking dogs not only scare trick-or-treaters of every age away, they also present a danger. A dog that breaks away from your home might not bite, but he could knock down a toddler or scare a teen right into the street, causing even more danger. Keep all pets securely confined inside your home until the hustle and bustle of the night has passed.
7. Don’t put out candy
Maybe you won’t be home on Halloween or perhaps it’s difficult for you to answer the door, so you’ve put out a bowl of candy for kids to help themselves. While this seems like the right thing to do, someone could taint the candy. It’s probably unlikely, but it’s definitely not worth taking the chance.
8. Make room in the garage
If you’re headed out on Halloween, clean out the garage and store your car securely in it. From teen antics to serious vehicle vandalism and theft, your car is best kept in the garage on Halloween.
9. Use discretion when opening the door
While nearly all trick-or-treaters are innocent kids out to collect as much candy as they can possibly carry, you must still be cautious of whom you open the door for. If you have an uneasy feeling about the person approaching your door, don’t open it. And as the barrage of trick-or-treaters fades to just a few here and there, it’s a good idea to stop opening the door for the night.

Source: 9 Ways to Prepare Your House for a Safe Halloween

The Lawhead Team would like to share some safety tips for the Halloween season for your home:

• Use LED or battery operated candles instead of candles with a live flame. These are much safer however you should still make sure they don’t come into contact with paper, cloth or any other flammable items.
• Many Halloween decorations like straw and dried flowers are flammable. Keep them away from all open flames and heat sources such as light bulbs to prevent fires.
• For Halloween lights, make sure all electric cords are safely out of the way of children and pets. If your Halloween lights say “indoors only”, follow their advice!
• On the night of Halloween, make sure your path to your door is well lit and free of clutter. You should also make sure the path is free of any obstacles that could cause someone to trip or fall.
• Don’t let your children handle sharp carving knives and keep an eye on them while you’re carving. If possible, purchase specific tools that are geared just for pumpkin carving (for your safety, too!). If the kids really want to participate in the carving, you can let them make the pattern or poke the pumpkin flesh in after you’ve done the carving.
• Never leave a candle anywhere unattended, and never leave burning candles where children (or people who act like children) can reach them or accidentally knock them over.
• Make sure that all Halloween props hanging, dangling, draped, staked, or set are steadily secured. Where there will be foot traffic, tape down loose wires with duct tape. You don’t want people to trip. And check these places often during the course of the evening for any loose edges that need retaping.
• And above all else, make sure to stay safe and have fun during the Halloween season!

We hope everyone enjoys their Halloween and has fun Trick or Treating with the kids!  We would like to share some Halloween “Trick or Treat” tips.

Only carry flexible props, such as knives, swords, ninja items, etc., that can’t cause injury if a kid accidentally falls. No play prop should resemble the real item; and consider leaving play weapons at home and not part of trick or treat night.

Only trick or treat at houses that are lit. Residents who do not wish to be bothered by trick or treaters on Halloween often leave off their lights as a sign; respect their preference by only going to houses that are lit.

Be sure kids don’t get over-heated and keep hydrated. Plan costumes according to weather; don’t have your child dress in an adorable lions costume with heavy fur and hood if you live in Southern states where temperatures could still be in the 80s in the evening. Be one of those creative parents who accessorizes jackets or thinks “cool comfort” for their kids on Halloween.

Think “practical” over “cute” when picking a trick or treat goody bag or container. Some of seemingly-fun ones sold in stores are heavy–before any treats are added; others are too long and will drag the ground or have sharp edges that could scrape against tender skin. One of the best and simplest suggestions is have kids utilize a backpack to keep their hands free except for perhaps a flashlight on Halloween.

Keep track of time and don’t trick or treat after 9 p.m. That allows ample time for children to trick or treat, and by then, the excitement of the evening and the candy/treats means little ghouls will be tired, anyhow.

Have each child carry or wear something lit, such as a flashlight, glow bracelet or necklace, or flashing attire for visibility. Light-up shoes are also practical, and ever-so-noticeable on a dark Halloween night.

Adults should plan out a route in advance and check it during the daylight for such obstacles as broken sidewalks (or no sidewalks), construction timber, or other obstacles that could trip up trick or trickers. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.

Require well-fitting shoes to be worn; preferably sneakers. While adorable in the store as a Halloween costume accessory, kids planning to go trick or treat should wear sturdy shoes and not the princess high-heel, too-large boots, or other types of shoes often shown with costumes. Save those types of shoes for costume parties and not when a child is going trick or treat. Their feet–and most likely you who may end up carrying either the shoes or the child–will be thankful.

Avoid costumes that drag on the ground. While cute initially, Halloween costumes that drag can trip up little feet, get caught on bushes, and create a tussle that sometimes results in the child wanting to remove the costume. Remember, kids who trick or treat want to be costumed AND comfortable.

Pick costumes that are bathroom-friendly. On this same subject, parents should pre-plan a bathroom stop along the way (a friends’ house will do and is a good time for a water break as well), or at a public facility if driving.

Be sure a child’s mask allows full visibility and breathing. Spiderman masks, for example, sometimes only have small eye slits and nothing for the nose or mouth. Parents should try on masks for size and not hesitate to cut out larger openings for a trick or treater’s comfort on Halloween. If possible, find a mask that “breathes” and is easy to put on and off. The types of mask that easily can slide up on the head and then pulled down are best.

Trick or treaters should walk, not run, and should never cut across lawns or driveways. Obstacles could exist that aren’t readily visible in the evening.

Halloween is just around the corner and it is time to get your costumes ready and take the kids out to trick or treat!  The Lawhead Team always encourages safety and we would like to share some fire prevention tips for the Halloween season.

These Halloween Fire Safety tips are from the US Fire Administration:

Halloween is a fun holiday but it’s also an important time to practice fire safety. The occurrence of fire increases around Halloween due to arson and the use of candles as decorations. Follow these tips for a happy and fire-safe Halloween:

• If you buy a costume, make sure the label says “Flame Resistant.”  Flame Resistant means the costume will be hard to catch on fire and if it does, the fire will go out fast.
• If you make a Halloween costume, try not to make one that is big and baggy so that the material doesn’t touch candles or other flames.  Use flame-resistant fabrics, such as polyester and nylon.  These materials will resist burning if exposed to a flame.
• Tell kids to stay away from candles and jack-o’-lanterns that may be on steps and porches.  Their costumes could catch fire if they get too close.
• Kids should never carry candles when they are trick-or-treating.  Always use a flashlight, flameless candle, or light stick.
• Tell kids to let you know right away if they see other kids playing with matches or lighters.
• Don’t use candles for decorations.  They’re dangerous, especially when left unattended.
• Use only decorative Halloween lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.  Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.  Throw away damaged sets.  Don’t overload extension cords.
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for the latest on Halloween-related consumer product recalls.
• If you have a Halloween party, check for cigarettes under furniture cushions and in areas where people were smoking before you go to bed.
• Remove any materials around your home or property, such as garbage or excess vegetation, which an arsonist could use to start a fire.

Taken from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/halloween.shtm

The Lawhead Team would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!