Halloween: that spooky and crazy time of year when we all get to embody the look, personality and overall essence of our favorite pop-culture icons. (If only for one night) You’ll see everything from Mario Brothers to Blues Brothers, Angels to Zombies, Nurses to Witches, Batman to Hello Kitty. And as much fun as it is to pretend to be someone/thing else for the night, it’s easy to see how certain people “loose themselves” in their attempts to portray their respective character. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips to make sure your Halloween night is equally as safe as it is EPIC.
DO NOT drink and drive. I know this puts a damper on a lot of adult-centric Halloween festivities, but the fact of the matter is not only does the percentage of DUIs increase exponentially on Halloween night, as do the number of vehicular accidents. Instead, plan ahead. Designate a sober driver for you and your guests, pay for a cab or rideshare transit, or even make use of public transportation for the night. No amount of Halloween fun is worth the devastation caused by drinking and driving.
Be mindful of the people around you. Some people take advantage of being able to hide in plain sight in the midst of Halloween craziness. Real-life horror stories include: theft of valuables, spiking drinks, sexual assault, quick costume changes to deter suspicion, and even impersonating someone else in a similar costume.
As for the children-centric Halloween festivities, simply abide by the normal PSA spiel that have been around for decades.
Inspect any and all candy/treats/etc. before letting your children eat it
Turn on some form of outdoor lighting to your home, especially if you are not home
Clear any tripping/falling hazards from your yard, sidewalk, and porch for visiting Trick-or-Treaters
Avoid lighting any candles/matches/etc. that children could gain access to (Instead, consider using battery-powered lights for your decorations)
Isolate any pets you may have from visiting Trick-or-Treaters (territorial animals and unknown children on a sugar-high don’t mix)
Incorporate some sort of reflective component into your child’s costume so while they are Trick-or-Treating around a dark neighborhood they can easily be seen by oncoming traffic
Finally, here are a few common Halloween mishaps that you can rest easy about because they are covered in most homeowner’s insurance policies. (Or… if it ALL happens, your umbrella policy would step in to help cover the remaining exposure. If you have it, that is. MMMWWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
· Vandalism to your home (standard polices cover the damages from your typical egging, toilet papering and other vandalism)
· Injuries to Trick-or-Treaters (the homeowner liability portion of your policy will help cover any injuries sustained on your property)
· Fire caused by decorations (candles or other open flames are recommended to be switched over to an electric alternative, however, fires started by decorations are, in fact, covered up to your policy limit)













