October Safety Topics

October is fire safety and prevention month, and is a month in which many seasonal changes occur. Not only does the weather get drastically colder in some regions of the country, but the sun also sets at an earlier time, posing safety hazards as it gets dark. It is important to take steps and precautions throughout the month of October to ensure that you and your family are safe.

Health

• Health is an essential safety topic for the month of October, as the cooling weather makes it easier for viruses to thrive. This increases the chances of you and your children getting sick from viruses such as the common cold and the flu. To guard your family against airborne viruses, practice good hygiene such as washing hands, using hand sanitizer and wiping down surfaces with antibacterial wipes. You may also consider getting a flu shot to decrease your likelihood of contracting the flu.

Fire

• October is fire safety awareness month, which you can use to better prepare your home in the event of a fire. Teach your children what to do if the house is on fire, such as the stop, drop and roll technique. Create a safety plan for your family and have multiple evacuation plans ready. This is also a good time to have anti-fire features added to your home; install fireproof shingles and a fire extinguisher and purchase fireproof safes to store your valuable belongings.

Halloween

• Halloween occurs on the 31st of October, and can be a potentially dangerous holiday for children. To address safety concerns for the holiday, make sure that your children have a portable light source to carry while trick-or-treating, such as miniature lanterns, flashlights or glow sticks. These will make it easier for your children to see and be seen. You may also decide to add reflective tape to your children's costumes to make it easier for passing cars to see them. Make sure that your children's costumes are not long enough for them to trip over, and that the costumes are warm enough to be worn outdoors if the night is cold. Check all of the candy your children receive while trick-or-treating. Throw away any candy that has been opened or punctured.

Darkness

• With the days becoming shorter during October, it is important to address safety concerns involving your children playing outside. You may need to establish an earlier curfew to prevent your children from playing outside once it gets dark. You may also consider installing motion-activated lights on your driveway to conserve energy and make it easy for pedestrians to see when approaching your home.