Halloween is usually considered a children’s holiday, but all ages enjoy it. As a senior adult, maybe your plan for Halloween is to just hand out candy to the stream of costumed kids traipsing through the neighborhood. Maybe you’re an active senior adult who will go trick-or-treating with your own kids, grandkids, or likeminded friends. Or maybe you’re throwing a spooky soiree at home.
Whatever your plans for the night, here are 6 important Halloween safety tips for adults to keep in mind.
Important safety tips for a fun and frightful Halloween night
Halloween can sometimes be a scary experience for senior adults, especially those who live alone. But with some care and precautions, you can have an enjoyable, safe time on October 31st.
-
Lights
Good lights are necessary when preparing for how to be safe on Halloween. A few days before Halloween, check all outdoor lights to make sure they’re working and have a couple of back-up bulbs on hand. Keep a flashlight easily accessible for any emergencies.
-
Decorations
Your walkway and porch decorations should be kept to a minimum. Wherever possible, raise decorations off the ground. For example, instead of a carved pumpkin by your front door, string up some jack-o-lantern lights.
If you absolutely must have a pumpkin, use battery-powered LEDs instead of candles to light it up.
The same goes for indoor decorations. Hang décor up on walls rather than putting things on floors, tabletops, and staircases. This protects you from tripping, especially if the lights are dimmed to make the atmosphere spooky. Just make sure the fake cobwebs don’t block any doorways or hang so low they catch you in the eye.
-
Costumes
Avoid anything bulky or restrictive that could hamper your movements, vision, breathing, or cause you to knock things over. Your face, arms, hands, legs, and feet should be free at all times.
Long, flowing gowns and Count Dracula capes are a tripping hazard, but if your heart is set on going as the Queen of Hearts, shorten the dress to a few inches above your feet. A plastic trident may be the finishing touch to your Aquaman outfit, but carrying it around can be a drag and besides, you need to keep your hands free.
Wear comfortable shoes. Skip any Halloween masks that go over your head, or plastic masks with poky edges. In fact, if you can’t remove it instantly with just one hand, skip the mask entirely.
-
Staying vigilant
One study shows that 7 cities in Texas and 5 in Arizona are among the top 25 safest cities for trick-or-treating, but even so, it’s important to be aware that Halloween can incite reckless behavior in people. Drunk driving, theft, location damage, vandalism, and disorderly conduct are very real possibilities on Halloween night.
- On roads and streets: Avoid driving on Halloween night. Past traffic records show that more than half of all Halloween car crash deaths involved drunk drivers.
If you plan to walk about your neighborhood with other trick-or-treaters, make sure your phone is fully charged. Keep it in a small, zippered bag slung across the chest to prevent forgetting or accidentally leaving it somewhere.
Put some adhesive bandages in the bag, as well as a mini pack of wipes, a small bottle of water, any emergency medication, and mosquito repellent. Also put in a card with your name, allergy details, any chronic illnesses you have, and the name and number of your primary contact.
Tuck a small amount of cash in your bag, but leave your wallet with your credit and debit cards at home.
- At home: If you live alone, keep the front door chained at all times. Look through before unchaining. Stay inside, blocking your doorway, when handing out candy.
If you plan to sit outside and people-watch, lock the front door behind you. Keep keys and phone in a small, zippered bag worn on your person at all times.
If someone asks to use the bathroom or your phone, refuse. Be very firm about this. Do not let anyone inside, especially if you’re alone, unless you know the person very well.
If you see any vandals damaging your location with toilet paper or eggs, do not go out to shout at them. Make a video if you can from a safe distance and call the police.
-
Candy consumption
Bags full of delicious candy lying around after exhausted kids have gone to bed are a great temptation. If you intend to sneak some of your kids/grandkids candy, make responsible choices. One or two pieces at max, nothing hard, and no chewy candy that sticks to teeth. Sticky candy can damage crowns or fillings, and it is possible your healthcare may not cover dental treatments.
-
That’s enough Halloween for me, thanks!
Although some cities and communities have defined trick-or-treat hours, Halloween shenanigans can last way into the night.
If you have an early bedtime or don’t want to be disturbed after a certain hour, turn off your exterior lights. This lets people know you’re either not participating in Halloween or are done for the night.
Additionally, you can put up a sign stating, ‘Out of Candy!’ Just make sure it’s large enough for people on the street to read clearly without having to come up your driveway.
Have a happy Halloween
Its origins may lie in the scary and spooky, but Halloween is really all about having fun. With our Halloween safety tips for seniors, that shouldn’t be difficult at all!