Haunts Of Owensboro
2008 HALLOWEEN SAFETY

RECCOMENDS CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN ON THE SAFE SIDE

STAY SAFE TIPS FOR THE MOST HAUNTED NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Story Complied from the Internet by Randy Begreron, Artwork by Ricardo Pustanio © 2006 -2008

It is most natural that the dead should choose such an in-between time to return to the world of the living – if only briefly – from their silent abode in the realms beyond.

To the vast majority of people Halloween is associated with images of shining jack-o’-lanterns, plastic decorations of skeletons, witches, spiders and the like, ranks upon ranks of costume-clad children with sticky hands and candy-filled sacks, and the occasional bad imitation of Bela Lugosi at annual Halloween parties.

Also Check Out: TOP TEN 2007 BEST MOST HAUNTED, SCARIEST CREEPY SPOOK HOUSES IN AMERICA

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Popular Halloween terms and web searches on hauntedamericatours.com Halloween costumes Halloween decorations Halloween crafts Halloween props Halloween party ideas Halloween treat Halloween candy Halloween pranks Halloween customs Halloween rituals Halloween witch Halloween pumpkin carving Halloween Music Halloween Haunted Spook House SEARCH FOR MORE HALLOWEEN GOODIES AND TRICK R' TREAT INFO HERE NOW!

There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening.

Halloween Safety Tips for Kids and Adults, ghost, witches,vampires, zombies and goblins, and for all those Trick R' Treaters young and old! Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests and their children. Using safety tips and common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season and make it as enjoyable for your kids as it is for you! Trick or treating isn't what it used to be. It's not as safe to let kids walk the streets alone. Send a responsible adult or older teenager with them. Have a pumpkin carving party for your children and their friends a couple nights before Halloween. They'll enjoy looking at their creations for a few days before they have to be thrown out. Check your local grocery store or craft store for Halloween cook books full of tasty treats on a horror theme for both kids and adults. Serve your kids a filling meal before trick or treating and they won't be tempted to eat any candy before they bring it home for you to check. Anytime a child has an accident, it's tragic. The last thing that you want to happen is for your child to be hurt on a holiday, it would forever live in the minds of the child and the family. There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening. Here, you'll find helpful tips and ideas to make the most of everyone's favorite holiday of the year ........ HALLOWEEN! Make Halloween a fun, safe and happy time for your kids and they'll carry on the tradition that you taught them to their own families some day!

This Is Halloween

 

Also see: CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN THE MOST HAUNTED NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof, the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.

If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids costumes won't accidentally be set on fire. Better still use PumpkinLights.com to light pumpkins. They make a light that looks like a flickering candle flame!

Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.

Kids always want to help with the pumpkin carving. Small children shouldn't be allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face. There are many kits available that come with tiny saws that work better then knives and are safer, although you can be cut by them as well. It's best to let the kids clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it, which you can carve for them.

Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.

Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to, will help make them safer when they are out Trick or Treating.

Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them.

The best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can't take them, see if another parent or a teen aged sibling can go along.

Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties, school or mall functions.

Make sure you set a time that they should be home by. Make sure they know how important it is for them to be home on time.

Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem like fun but they need to know the other side of the coin as well, clean up and damages can ruin Halloween. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they've made.

Explain to your kids that animal cruelty is not acceptable. Kids may know this on their own but peer pressure can be a bad thing. Make sure that they know that harming animals is not only morally wrong but punishable by law and will not be tolerated.



TRICK OR TREAT

Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of towns have a Harvest Festival so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely. But going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween.

Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves.

Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated places and don't go off the beaten track. Stay in well lighted areas.

Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adult.

Small children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.

Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.

Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.

Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR PARTIES
Having a Halloween party, either one for adult or for children, is definitely great fun! In order to have things run smoothly and with no accidents, here are some tips that can be used to make your party more enjoyable. With a little planning and time to prepare, you have throw a fun, safe Halloween party!

If using dry ice in a punch bowl, make sure that the person serving keeps any dry ice chips out of drinks! It can cause severe injury if ingested.

If you are holding your party in your house, make sure that you move any breakable pieces of furniture or knick-knacks to another room where they can't get broken. A forgotten heirloom vase that hits the floor could ruin the night for you.

To keep things moving for either an adult party or child's party, make sure that you have some games, like a scavenger hunt or a murder mystery planned in advance.

If you are planning a party for your kids and their friends, see if you can get some of the other mothers to help out with the planning, baking and what ever else needs to be done. Make a block party out of it!

Whip up a batch of Halloween cupcakes the day before, have the kids help you out. Any treats or party food that can be made in advance is always a big help!

Having a pumpkin carving party on the night before Halloween can be a great way to start off the festivities. Either adults, kids or both, you can have a wonderful time and get all your pumpkins carved at the same time!

Set up a table with treats, punch and goodies in your front yard if you live in a small neighborhood. Invite the children and their parents to stop by for refreshments, you'll start a small party right in your front yard! Just make sure you set up a nice yard haunt, too!

Adults like to have as much fun during Halloween as the kids do! Adult Halloween parties tend to be much wilder than children's parties with dancing, alcohol use and catered food.

Using common sense can make a party a great one and avoid anything that may ruin it.

Keep an eye on the drinking, don't let it get out of hand. Take the keys away from anyone that may be driving. Have one person stay sober and offer to drive those people home who may be too intoxicated to drive.

When deciding on a menu, check and see if anyone attending the party has food allergies that might be a problem. Common food allergies to dairy products, peanuts and shell fish can really put a damper on the festivities.

Planning ahead for problems can make all the difference for your Halloween party!

It is widely accepted that the jack-o’-lantern came to life in Ireland where originally turnips were hollowed out, carved with simple faces or symbols and used as lanterns for those traveling through the lamentable darkness of Halloween night. But they also served another purpose and that was to scare away evil spirits and greedy ghosts. In some Irish traditions, the jack-o’-lantern also helped departed ancestors to find their way to their families on this night of nights, and back to the realms of Shadow before the dawn of November 1st and All Saint’s Day.

If you don't like to send your kids out for trick or treating a good substitute is a home Halloween party.

Adult Halloween parties can be very fun! Hold a costume contest, have a theme party, the possibilities are endless!

If you run short on ideas, there are many Halloween party idea books available at your local book or craft store.

Plan some games in advance to keep your child's Halloween party running smoothly. Kids have short attention spans sometimes, you want to keep it exciting!

Make it spooky with mood music! You can find all kinds of Halloween music and sound effects CDs for kids and adults.

Make your table setting a spooky one using fake spider web, mini pumpkins, and other Halloween items.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR PETS Leaving your pets outside on Halloween is not a god idea. There are plenty of tales of malicious people who tease, injure, steal, torture, even killed peoples pets on Halloween. Not to mention that dogs and cats can scare easily with all the trick-or-treaters coming to your house. Here are some tips to keep your pets happy on Halloween. As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candy, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount. If you work in a pet store, remember that this is the time of year that can be deadly for black cats. Some sick people who play at being what they'll call a Satanist will buy them to "sacrifice" If you can, don't take any black cats or sell them during October. The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. There are plenty of recipes for making home made dog and cat treats, you can always make them on a Halloween note. Dogs can have lethal tails, wagging all over the place. Don't leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat. Not only could your pet start a fire but they could severely burn themselves in the process. If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. Some animals don't mind at all but others do not want to be bothered with this kind of thing. They'll be under enough stress with the festivities going on outside and people at the door constantly so don't cause them any more nervousness then you have to. You may love to dress in costume but then, you aren't a dog or a cat. Look for pet costumes at Spirit Halloween. If you put a mask of some type on your animal, make sure that the eye holes are big enough for them to see peripherally. Animals depend on their vision to let them know what's going on and even the nicest dog can get snippy if he can't see what's around him. In fact, masks really aren't a good idea. If you are having a indoor party, make sure that you put your dog or cat in a room where they won't be disturbed. Unless your pet is ultra friendly and doesn't mind loud noises, music and lots of people you should keep them separate for the night. Also, be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart out through the open door as you hand out candy. Best bet is to just put them in a room with some food and water for the night and check on them once in a while to let them know everything is fine. Remember, your pets can't tell you what's wrong and what bothers them. They are more easily frightened since they have no idea what's going on. Be sympathetic and treat them like you'd want to be treated if you were them! Just because you think a certain Halloween costume for pets is cute doesn't mean that they will enjoy wearing them! Try it on them in advance and see how they react. Getting Halloween treats for your visitors and kids? Don't forget to pick up a box of dog or cat treats for them as well! If you own a cat and let it go outside, remember that this a bad time of year for cats. Vicious people tend to find Halloween an excuse to hurt or kill them. Keep them inside for a while. They are safer inside on a daily basis anyway. Having an adult party? Remember, dogs, cats, birds and other animals do not like being intoxicated. Some at the party may think it's funny to get an animal drunk but it can kill them. It's better to hurt someone's feelings by telling them to leave the party than to deal with a seriously ill pet.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR HAUNTED FRONT YARD

Haunted houses get really scary, and accidents do happen! This is haunted house season, and anyone who has been to one lately knows they're not what they used to be. A fake bat or cob webs hanging on your front door just doesn't cut it anymore.

Are you building a home haunted house? We've supplied links to different web sites at the end of this article that will help you have a happy and safe Halloween.

Homeowners
Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots that can trip the young ones.
Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
Battery powered jack o'lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be micro waved later.
Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

PRIVATE HOME HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE SAFETY TIPS

The following guidelines have been developed to assist homeowners who plan to have haunted houses during the Halloween Season. If you have any questions, please contact your insurance company before opening your home or yard to guest. When addressing the issue of safety, enough cannot be said about the importance of this topic. Accidents can and may happen; however, you can do much to decrease the odds of such occurrences.

Haunted House Legal & Safety Considerations
Have you ever considered the legal aspects of haunting? This may consist of special event permits, liability insurance, temporary building permits, local sales tax forms, employee liability and work wage contracts, fire and safety inspection, and a temporary business license. Each city, state or town is different Check with city and local officials and find out the restrictions and codes you must follow and or permits.

Exits need to be clearly marked and all existing emergency procedures followed.
Tour guides should be inside the haunted house, positioned near exits to assist people in the event of an emergency.
Lighting may be dimmed, but not completely turned off. Also placing any items between the light bulb and the light casing is prohibited.
The haunted house cannot contain any open flames including candles. Smoking is also prohibited. Know where the nearest fire extinguisher is located. Do not cover or block the fire extinguisher.
The path through the haunted house must be free from obstructions, and at a minimum have "running lights" to mark the path.
The use of dried leaves or corn stalks is limited to outside of the haunted house and must be treated with a flame retardant.
Plastic flammable wall dividers should not be used.
It is preferred to have a tour guide escort people through the haunted house.
Extension cords or other cords must be fastened to the ground. The extension cords must have ground plugs and no cracked or frayed cords may be used.
Do not permit occupants in the stage areas to jump out/up to surprise people going through the haunted house.
Provide pre-training to all individuals working in the haunted house; include what to do in an emergency. At least one person on staff must have a First Aid and CPR certification from the American Red Cross or similar organization.
Provide information to individuals going through the haunted house; including instructions not to run, etc.
You are responsible for all clean up and any damage to your own property.
Please keep safety in mind to ensure that everyone has a safe Halloween.

Plan Ahead for a Safe & Secure Event
Managing any event that is attended by many people at one time, can be a nightmare, unless you plan ahead. Safety and security are of paramount importance for handling the large crowds that will attend your event this year, and a written plan of action for each and every possible contingency will decrease the time it takes to respond to a problem.

Haunted Houses & the Fire Marshall
The amount of time and effort that goes into the design, fabrication, set-up and operation of these attractions is astounding. However, as a Fire Marshal, my primary concern is Life Safety, and when this is overlooked, all that time and effort is wasted on a closed attraction, or worse, injuries from an unsafe one. The goal for all of us should be that no one gets hurt.

Haunted Hayride Safety
Safety at a Haunted Hayride site is of extreme importance to all concerned, and therefore demands the attention of every staff member, from the parking lot attendant to the maintenance crew. From the moment a patron drives onto the property.

Everyone loves a good yard haunt for Halloween! For those creating the haunt, be it a simple yard haunt or a home walk-thru, the planning and creating is the most fun!

Draw out a "floor plan" of what you want to do before hand, to make sure you have the room for what you want to do.

Decide how much you want to spend on putting it together, some props can be expensive but well worth it as far as scare value.

Get family involved in helping to put it together and start a tradition that will carry over to your kids.

Plan ahead. Hit all the after Halloween sales to pick up what you need for the next year and get it at a fraction of the price!

Get a head start on the next year and build your props early. By starting early, you can take your time and not be rushed in October.

When planning a yard haunt there are some things that you want to keep in mind for safety reasons. You want to make your haunt scary, possibly bloody and gory but when it comes to your visitors, you don't want the blood to end up being real. Here are some ideas that might help you make it safer.

The number one item is to get extra home owners insurance for the nights that you will be allowing people to view your haunt. Nothing can spoil the fun more than a law suit because someone tripped and fell down. Most insurance companies can help you with the problem of extra insurance for the time needed, even if it's for a night. the expense of a nights insurance will far out-weigh what it could end up costing you with out it!

When building your haunt, make sure that the walk ways are far enough away from things so that people can't trip over them or hurt themselves. This also is good for you, this means that your visitors won't be able to ruin your props and sets. Some people just have to vandalize at this time of year and ruin it for others.

If you have a lot of Jack-O-Lanterns, you might want to try a battery powered light source or light sticks to light them instead of candles. This cuts down on the fire hazards, such as catching costumes or props on fire. Use something like batter powered pumpkin lights like the ones found at many outlet stores.

If you do use real candles, make sure there is no chance of anything blowing into the flames, no cloth, crepe paper streamers or anything that could start a fire.
If you are using fake blood, make sure that it won't be coming in contact with anything stainable like visitors, pets and children. Not only is fake blood sticky but it can stain like crazy!

If you have a particularly gruesome haunt set up, make sure you have warning signs up so that those with a weak stomach can be forewarned.

If your haunt is going to be publicized, make sure that you get some volunteers to help with crowd control and public safety. Off duty police and fireman are often willing to help out.


Additional Resources

National Fire Protection Association
NFPA's mission is to deduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
http://www.nfpa.org/


Haunted Attraction Magazine
Regularly publishes valuable articles in the trade magazine about haunted attraction safety. Haunted Attraction Magazine is the leading authority, providing quality content about issues facing our industry.
http://www.HauntedAttraction.com


International Association of Haunted Attractions
Offers a worthwhile safety manual when you join as a member. The International Association of Haunted Attractions is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Haunted Attractions through communication, education and information.
http://www.IAHAweb.com

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ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT GHOST STORIES ARE OFTEN TOLD BUT WHAT ABOUT: The Most Haunted Scariest Places On Earth The never ending search for the most haunted places on earth or the top ten scariest places on earth continues. What is the reason for such an internet web search? People looking for thrills and chills to conquer the boredom of everyday life. Or the search to test ones own limits and level of fears that they might bring. Or, are these places so haunted and scary because we deem them so? Everywhere you look you can find a Top Ten List of Scary places, from the The World's Most Haunted Houses, to List of allegedly haunted locations. Fox Television's Scariest Places on Earth has opened up many peoples eyes to real haunted paranormal horrors they never thought existed. READ MORE ABOUT The Most Haunted Scariest Places On Earth HERE NOW!