Along with the onset of school, fall, foul weather, and the pending winter, come a few perks too.  One such bonus of this time of year is the annual tradition of Halloween.  All this month, Cackleberries will be pulling out the stops to bring you plenty of Hallow’s Eve themed posts.

You can view all of our expert articles on the right side of the page under the “Expert Articles” category.  If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, feel free to let us know at info@cackleberries.com

Child Safety Tips for Halloween Night

While Halloween can be an absolute blast, it can also be downright bust.  Poor weather, avoidable injuries, fear of vandals, or any number of other concerns can easily turn a night of delight into a night of distress.   To help mitigate any of these potential pitfalls, we’ve compiled a list of tips to make sure your Halloween is as stress-free as can be!

Check and Re-Check your Child’s Candy!

Always go through your child’s candy haul when you get home. Never allow your child to eat opened goodies or treats. While it’s entirely possible that these sweets are fine, it’s simply not worth the risk. The vast majority of packages should be sealed and the few that have to be disposed of won’t affect your kid’s stash. Also, be sure to take some for yourself.

When Out at Night, Make Sure to be Bright!

This tip is especially important when the weather is rainy or foggy. In conditions when it has hard to see and with plenty of dark costumes being worn, make sure your child can be seen! There are plenty of ways to have your child visible without detracting from their costume.

• Attach light reflective strips to their arms and legs – As these appendages are constantly in motion, their reflective capabilities will be maximized.
• Outfit them with glowing light-sticks for their wrists or necks – These glowing accessories will last for hours and are available in a variety of different colours ensuring that even the most picky of children will be appeased.
• Use a Flashlight – Avoid unseen curbs or cracks in the sidewalk, keep better track of your kids, tie loose shoelaces easier, or do pretty much anything else you need light to do!

Avoid Houses with Their Lights Off

These lights are off for a reason – they want to be left alone. If someone does not want to participate in Halloween, that should be respected. Constant annoyance could result in unnecessary confrontation.

Cross the Street Safely

Make sure to cross the roadway from sidewalks or via intersections. It might seem like a minor piece of advice but simple road safety can go a long way, especially for tiny children.

Try to Avoid Firecrackers and Fireworks

While these can be dazzling on the eyes, they are best viewed from a distance or in controlled environments. The power contained in these tiny items is enough to send a child to the emergency room.

Avoid Large Groups and Stick Together

Large groups can lead to confusion and mini-members of your troupe can get lost in the melee.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Winter is fast approaching. Mix in a little rain or snow, and Halloween can make for a downright chilly experience and we’re not just talking spine chilling scary, we’re talking cold! Make sure you and your kids are wearing warm clothing in layers. You can always take extra clothes off but it’s a lot harder to add clothes you don’t have.

So with that, have a safe and fun Halloween night!

Along with the onset of school, fall, foul weather, and the pending winter, come a few perks too.  One such bonus of this time of year is the annual tradition of Halloween.  All this month, Cackleberries will be pulling out the stops to bring you plenty of Hallow’s Eve themed posts.

You can view all of our expert articles on the right side of the page under the “Expert Articles” category.  If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, feel free to let us know at info@cackleberries.com

Keep Your Pet Safe on Halloween: 6 Safety Tips for Halloween Night

Halloween can be a scary time. Every October 31^st, the loud crack and bang of fireworks, spooky costumes, large groups of masked and marauding youths, and dark, hazy, smoky conditions add up to a mysterious, somewhat frightening night. Now imagine how your pet would feel with all this activity going on. Pretty spooked I’m sure. With all the chaos and unnatural events happening all around them, pets will be faced with uncertainty and are likely to react in unexpected ways to these new events unfolding before them. In order to keep your pets as safe as possible on this hectic night, we’ve compiled a list of measures you can take to make certain that your pets come through Halloween unscathed.

Leave Your Pets at Home and Indoors

This tip is especially important when it comes to cats. Since they are notoriously independent, outdoor cats will not enjoy being cooped up indoors but it is definitely for their own good.  Cats are more likely to get spooked and run off given all that’s happening around them.  If your keeping your dogs at home it would be best to bring them indoors to limit their anxiety. If they are left in a fenced backyard, they still sense and experience everything going on around them and it is possible they’ll go stir crazy and bark continuously.

Place Your Pets in a Separate Room

Even if you keep your pet indoors during Halloween, it may not be enough of a preventative step to ensure they are out of harms way. Pets are easily excitable as it is, but with all the loud noises and constant stream of strangers visiting the house, they are even more likely to be jumpy and may react unpredictably to all the chaos going on around them. On top of that, with the door constantly opening, it is possible for your pet to escape out into the wild night. To prevent this, simply place your pets in a separate room or in the basement for the few peak hours of activity.

Put Bright or Reflective Materials on Your Animal

If you do plan to take you pet out with you on Halloween, be sure to make them as visible as possible. Items such as reflective vests or L.E.D collars are a great and simple way to make sure your pets are noticeable and distinguishable. Although your pet may not like it, with so many people out, vehicles on the road, and the likelihood of bad weather, it is much safer for your pet to be easily identified.

Use a Short Leash

There are sure to be other people walking their pets as well, and with the heightened anxiety your pet will be experiencing, the likelihood of animals quarrelling is greatly increased. To try and minimize pet interaction and potential conflict, use a short leash and pay close attention when around other animals so you’ll have better control over your pet.

Don’t Allow Anyone to Feed Candy to Your Pets

Little children may think they are being nice and kind but candy or chocolate for an animal is not a good idea. In fact, chocolate can be fatal to a pet if ingested in large enough quantities. Make sure your pet does not receive any “treats’ on Halloween and that goodies are kept away from your pet’s prying paws after Halloween.

Make Sure Your Pet has a Licence Tag

If your pet is let outside, runs away, or becomes separated from you somehow, having a licence tag on their collar could make all the difference in having them safely returned home.  Make sure that your pet is registered and is wearing their licence tag at all times. It is well worth your time.

Following these tips should mitigate any of the dangers your pet may face and help ensure that you have a safe and fun Halloween!