Home Security

Halloween Safety Tips for the Whole Family

By Ring on October 6, 2023

It’s time to start putting the final touches on Halloween costumes, honing your pumpkin-carving skills, and stocking up on fun-sized candy bars, because fall is upon us! But while you get ready for a night of fun, you should also start thinking about ways to keep your home and family safe.

From your little pumpkins and ghosts to your fur babies, these tips can help the whole family prepare for a safe and spectacular Halloween.

Halloween Safety Tips for Kids

Before your trick-or-treaters start loading up on candy, be sure they follow these simple steps for a safe evening:

Choose a Costume That’s Spellbinding and Safe

Whether you’re helping your pre-teen thrift the perfect items for a DIY costume or picking something off the shelf for your toddler, keep these suggestions in mind:

Always look for a “flame-resistant” label on your child’s costume. The FDA recommends using synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester if you plan to go the DIY route.

The FDA also advises steering clear of costumes with masks, which can limit your child’s view as they cross the street or walk up your neighbor’s front steps.

You can use face paint as an alternative to masks, but be sure to test any products you plan to use ahead of time. According to the FDA, you should place a small amount on your child’s arm to see if they experience any redness, swelling, irritation, or rashes. If they don’t show any signs of an allergy, you can start practicing your application skills.

Check the size chart before you buy anything, or have your younger child test out their sibling’s hand-me-down before Halloween night. Oversized costumes can trip your little ones.

Stay Visible After Dark

When the sun sets on Halloween, the frightening factor goes up — and visibility goes down. These ideas from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can help ensure your older kids don’t blend into the dark as they make their way around the neighborhood:

Wear brightly colored costumes and use reflective tape to increase visibility in low lighting.

Carry flashlights or glowsticks to brighten the path and help to be seen by drivers.

Walk on the Sidewalk and Cross Carefully

When your kids are on a mission to get their biggest Halloween haul yet, they may be more focused on speed than safety. But the American Red Cross advises parents to share these tips with their kids before trick-or-treating begins:

No matter how eager you are to find the house with your favorite candy bar, be sure to walk, not run.

Stay on the sidewalks when they’re available. If you have to walk in the road, stick to the side and face traffic.

Don’t cut through yards or alleys to get to more houses — cross at the corner of the street (after looking both ways, of course!).

Halloween Safety Tips for Adults

Shopping for kid- and pet-friendly costumes, visiting a pumpkin patch, and carving jack-o’-lanterns aren’t the only items on your autumn to-do list. Review these safety tips to help ensure you and your home are ready for the Halloween festivities:

Make Sure Your Security System (and Cameras) Are Good to Go

Whether you’re headed out to trick-or-treat with your little ones or staying in to enjoy a scary movie, these products from Ring can help you stay up-to-date with what’s happening around your home:

A Ring Alarm security system can help keep your whole home protected on Halloween night — and all year round. Contact Sensors detect when doors or windows are opened, and Motion Detectors sense when someone goes by. With a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, you’ll get notifications on your Ring App if your Alarm is triggered in Home or Away mode.¹

A video doorbell can send an alert to your phone as soon as a little princess or superhero arrives. If you can’t answer the door right away, Halloween-themed Quick Replies can do it for you. And with a fun and frightening faceplate, your doorbell can accent your outdoor decorations.

Floodlight and Spotlight Cams start recording, shine a bright light, and send a notification to your phone after motion is detected. You can check in on Live View and use Two-Way Talk to try and deter any ghoulish behavior.

With a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, you can view and download past footage from doorbells or cameras.² Whether you want a cute video of your trick-or-treater waving goodbye or need footage of some Halloween mischief, you can go back up to 180 days to find the right clip.²

An extra Quick Release Battery Pack can help ensure your battery-powered video doorbell or security camera never misses a moment. You can check your devices’ battery level in the Ring App to see which ones might need extra power on Halloween night.

Prep Your House for Trick-or-Treaters

Multicolored leaves, pumpkins, and towering skeletons are a hallmark of Halloween. But if they block the path to your front door, your decorations can become a tripping hazard. Before the first trick-or-treater arrives, take these steps to help prepare your home:

The CPSC recommends checking for parts of your decor that could trip up someone headed to your door, like cords or cobwebs, and moving them out of the way.

To prevent fires, the CPSC also suggests replacing the tea light in your jack-o’-lantern with a battery-powered candle.

Test your outdoor lights and consider buying a few Pathway Lights or Step Lights to illuminate your walkway.

Download the Neighbors App to Get Real-Time Alerts

Whether you’re out carrying your kid’s overflowing basket of candy or sipping a witch’s brew at a Halloween party, it’s easy to keep up with any mischief happening in your neighborhood. With the Neighbors App by Ring, you can get notifications throughout the night when neighbors or local agencies post about safety, crime, weather, and more. From how to trick-or-treat safely to footage of someone running off with a ghoulish inflatable, the Neighbors App has the information you need to stay in the know throughout Halloween night. And by staying connected with your neighbors, you can help create a safer neighborhood for all the little trick-or-treaters.

Pay Attention on the Road

Whether you’re driving the kids to a mythical neighborhood full of king-sized candy bars or headed home from a friend’s Halloween party, here are a few road safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Watch for pedestrians who may be walking on the street or curb.

Slow down and scan the road.

Be alert for trick-or-treaters who may walk out from behind cars or bushes to cross the street.

Put your phone down and keep your eyes on the road.

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for your kids, but it can also be a stressful time for your furry family members. These tips can help keep pets healthy and comfortable:

Use a Pet Tag and Create a Lost Pet Profile on the Neighbors App

Amid the Halloween commotion, your pet may try to slip outside and join the trick-or-treaters. And if you’ve already added a Pet Tag to their collar and filled out a Pet Profile on the Ring App, you can toggle Lost Pet Mode to get the word out to your neighbors. If someone finds your pet, they can scan the QR code on Pet Tag to view the pictures and information you shared. You’ll also get a real-time alert, so you know they’re in safe hands. From there, you can arrange a reunion using the anonymous call or chat feature in the Ring App, so you don’t have to share your personal info to bring your furry friend home.

Create a Quiet Space for Sensitive Pets

From unfamiliar faces at the door to a never-ending “ding-dong” from the doorbell, Halloween night can bring many stressors for sensitive pets. The Humane Society recommends putting your dog or cat into a quiet room before trick-or-treating starts and using calming spray, soft music, or treats to keep them content. You can also sit outside to greet excited kids and hand out treats to prevent too much noise from reaching your pets.

If you want to keep an eye on your furry companion without interrupting their peace and quiet, consider setting up an Indoor Cam or Stick Up Cam in your pet’s room. You can watch live footage anytime from the Ring App and even use Two-Way Talk to reassure your pet that you’re nearby. For pets that love to slink out of view, a Stick Up Cam with Pan Tilt allows you to remotely swivel the camera and get a complete view of their sanctuary.

Use Pet-Friendly Decorations

Before you pull out the Halloween decor and turn your home into a haunted house, consider what could be frightening — or dangerous — to your pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends keeping jack-o’-lanterns, lit candles, and other decorations away from pets. Costume parts can also be choking hazards, so be sure to pack the kids’ costumes away until the big day.

Keep Human Treats Out of Reach

Stocking up on candy pre-Halloween can help you avoid empty shelves in the days before. But pets may be tempted to raid your stash, which could have ingredients that aren’t animal-friendly, according to the ASPCA. To avoid a Halloween tummy ache or vet visit, keep candy in a safe place away from your animals. And if you have little kids who can’t wait to dig in, make sure they know that sharing isn’t caring when it comes to their furry friends.

Prioritize Comfort Over Cuteness When Choosing a Costume

Your furry friend may make the cutest little spider or bat, but the ASPCA suggests only putting them in a costume if you know they love it. Before you get your pet dressed up, check for small or dangling parts that your pet could chew off. Once the costume is on, make sure it doesn’t limit your pet’s ability to move, see, or breathe.

Ring Can Help Protect Your Home This Halloween

When you’re prepared and informed, you can help make Halloween a safe holiday for the whole family. And with Ring, you can head out knowing your home is protected — so you can focus on making memories (and helping your kids find the best candy). From outdoor cameras that brighten up eerie dark spots to Indoor Cams that help you stay connected with your favorite furry friends, Ring has what you need to make your life a little easier this Halloween. We hope you have a safe and enchanting night!

¹ Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for in-app features and digital notifications, including digital arming / disarming and integration with other Ring, Echo, Alexa, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.

² Your Ring videos in the cloud are stored temporarily, up to 180 days. Changing your video storage time will only affect videos that are recorded after you adjust your storage time setting. Check Ring Protect Subscription Plans for more information.