CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/21/98

Keep Your Scary House Safe this Halloween

Just because trick-or-treaters set out to scare you this Halloween, you shouldn't scare them at your home. Or at least you shouldn't scare them with a dangerous yard, said a University of Georgia housing specialist.

"Halloween is scary enough," said Janet Valente, an Extension Service housing specialist with the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences. "Don't make your yard, porch or walkway scary to the point of danger."

Kids (and adults) may be wearing costumes that make it hard to see things they could trip over in your yard. "Costumes shouldn't block the wearer's vision," Valente said. "But making your yard or walkway clutter-free is a quick, easy step to making this holiday a bit safer."

She offers a few suggestions for homeowners expecting trick-or-treaters.

  • Make sure the yard, walkway, steps and porch are well-lit and clear of debris.

"Good lighting is important any time, but especially when you're expecting lots of eager children," Valente said. Aim spotlights to walkways. Consider installing directional lights at the walkway level. Repair or smooth out uneven or rough walkways to keep visitors from tripping. Turn off lights where you don't want people to go.

  • Put away any yard or gardening tools that can trip excited youngsters or the adults that accompany them. That also keeps children from playing with them and hurting themselves or each other.
  • Put away outside toys like bicycles, skateboards or balls that can cause falls or other injury to visiting children. If the toys aren't there, children can't play on them.
  • Secure or pen up pets that could bark or otherwise frighten children. Costumed children may frighten dogs and cats into reacting unusually by biting or chasing.
  • Use battery-powered candles or flashlights instead of live flames to illuminate jack-o'-lanterns to prevent fires in decorations or loose costumes.
  • Buy individually wrapped candies that make it easy for parents to inspect goodies. Or give small trinkets like pencils, erasers or stickers as a noncandy alternative.

People driving on Halloween night should be extra careful, too. Drive slow, slow, slow through neighborhoods. Many parents include reflective tape as part of their children's costumes, but some don't. So look carefully for children.

"If you're really concerned about your liability as a homeowner in this situation, check your homeowners' insurance policy," Valente said. "It should spell out the coverage conditions. If you're still unsure, call your insurance agent."

Experts/Sources:
Janet S Valente
Consumer Product Safety Commission
PeriodicalCicada BroodXIX 2011 CAES News
Georgia's Brood XIX is here: Periodical cicadas make their mark on the Southeast 05/15/24 Jordan Powers
There is no doubt about it: The periodical cicadas have arrived. There is no doubt about it: the periodical cicadas have arrived. “Brood XIX (Brood 19) is Georgia’s only 13-year cicada. The Great Southern Brood is the largest periodical cicada brood in North America, covering at least a dozen states in the Southeast,” said Nancy Hinkle, professor in the University of Georgia Department of Entomology. “This year, millions of periodical cicadas are emerging in Georgia from now until Memorial Day.”
Riley Forrestall is a third-year student studying ecology and plant biology. For his second year presenting at CURO, Forrestall focused on the role of hover flies in pollinator communities. CAES News
CURO ignites passion for research with student symposium 05/14/24 Olivia Randall
University of Georgia undergraduate students came together to showcase their individual research projects and achievements on April 8-9 at the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) Symposium. For 25 years, the CURO Symposium has served as an opportunity to highlight the breadth and depth of undergraduate research across multiple disciplines. CURO enables undergraduates to engage in faculty-mentored research as early as their first year, regardless of discipline, major, or GPA.
During the final session of the 2024 Rural Engagement Workshop cohort members had time to interact with some of the animals at the UGA Livestock Instructional Arena. (Photo by Baker Owens) CAES News
Program increases collaboration for rural engagement 05/13/24 Roy Parry
The interdisciplinary Rural Engagement Workshop for Academic Faculty, launched by Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost S. Jack Hu and Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum, brings together academic faculty and public service faculty. This partnership expands the impact of UGA’s research and ties it to practical applications in rural communities across Georgia.
Associate Dean for Extension Laura Perry Johnson and CAES Professor Stanley Culpepper at Ponder Farm in Tifton, Georgia. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski) CAES News
CAES associate dean for Extension set to retire after 35 years of service 05/09/24 Emily Cabrera
At the end of a 35-year career with the University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Associate Dean for Extension Laura Perry Johnson reflects on the journey that has taken her from her home on the farm to a lifetime of helping farmers. Johnson, affectionately known as “LPJ,” recently shared some of the lessons she has learned from a lifetime in agricultural education.
AGL class 2022 24 CAES News
UGA program empowers leaders in Georgia’s agricultural and forestry industries 05/07/24 Jordan Powers
After completing 106 sessions, learning from 122 expert speakers and completing more than 220 hours of educational content over 18 months, 25 leaders in two of Georgia’s largest industries — agriculture and forestry — are prepared to lead their industries thanks to the Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry program. The 2022-24 cohort was selected from more than 90 nominations, 60 applications and 40 interviews for the program, which is offered by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Office of Learning and Organizational Development.
The new Tifton Integrative Precision Agriculture Research, Education and Demonstration Laboratory will be the first in the Southeast to provide state-of-the-art collaborative spaces, top-of-the-line autonomous equipment and job training for the next generation of agricultural leaders. CAES News
UGA-Tifton demonstration lab to fuel innovation in precision agriculture 05/06/24 Jordan Powers
At the University of Georgia Tifton campus, the new Tifton Integrative Precision Agriculture Research, Education and Demonstration Laboratory will be the first of its kind in the Southeast to provide state-of-the-art collaborative spaces, top-of-the-line autonomous equipment and job training for the next generation of agricultural leaders. The $3 million project will include a working lab, electronic labs and office spaces to increase collaboration among graduate students, scientists and industry.