If you live in Hollywood, Florida, you may already be planning for Halloween. You may be buying Halloween candy, decorating your home for Halloween, and planning Halloween costumes for you and your family. In addition to all these preparations, however, it’s important to plan for Halloween safety as well. Each year in South Florida and Hollywood, personal injuries happen during holiday weekends, including Halloween weekend. There are many ways that you can prepare to avoid these types of accidents from happening to you and your family:
1) Make sure that your pool is secured to avoid Hollywood pool injuries. When trick-or-treaters are out and about on Halloween, they may be attracted to a shimmering pool in the evening. Whether you’re having a party at your home or are simply handing out treats, you want to make sure that your pool is covered with a durable pool cover, and that your pool is locked with a self-locking gate. However, keep in mind that even small amounts of water can be a hazard. If you are playing traditional games, such as bobbing for apples, keep the game area supervised and pour out the water as soon as the game is done.
2) Make sure that your home will be well lit for Halloween. While a dark property may set the mood for Halloween, it can also lead to Hollywood trip and fall accidents and slip and fall accidents. Make sure that walkways are clear and well lit for trick-or-treaters as well as your guests. You may want to plan on having additional lighting for Halloween night.
3) Plan only on handing out pre-wrapped, commercial candies. Most children and parents will not accept homemade goods or goods that have not been securely wrapped.
4) Have a Halloween safety plan for your children. If your children are young and heading out trick-or-treating, set up some ground rules. For example, insist that your children are accompanied by an adult or an older sibling. Make sure that they wear costumes which allow them to see well and which pose no tripping hazard. Ensure that your children are highly visible with flashlights and reflective costumes.
5) Take a second look at your Halloween decorations. Avoid using candles – including inside pumpkins – and make sure that any decorative lights you have are in good condition and pose no fire hazards. Ensure that no Halloween decorations drag or hang in a way that they pose a trip and fall hazard.
The legal team at the Flaxman Law Group wish you and your family a safe and happy Halloween. It’s important to plan ahead to ensure that your Halloween is spooky, and not filled with real tragedy. A little bit of prevention can help ensure that your home and your Halloween are safe.
If you or your family do sustain an injury in Hollywood, contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. With locations in Hollywood, Homestead, and Miami, the Flaxman Law Group is part of the South Florida community and has already helped thousands of South Florida personal injury victims.