Planning
ahead for potential problems can make all the difference in
a successful
Halloween party. Using common
sense can make your party a great one and avoid anything or
anyone that may ruin it.
With a little extra planning and
enough time to prepare, you can throw a fun and safe
Halloween party!
While
most costumes made today are manufactured from flame retardant material, that
doesn't mean that they are flame-proof. Avoid having
any type of exposed flame or fire such as candles or a
bonfire at your party.
If you do use real
candles make sure there's nothing that can catch
fire near them and never leave them unattended. If
throwing your party outside and having a bonfire or fire
pit, make sure that you "rope" off a safe perimeter
distance so as not to catch costumes on fire. Be sure you've
checked your smoke detectors to make sure they have
fresh batteries and are working
properly. Always have at least
one fire extinguisher on hand.
Consider
lighting your Jack O' Lanterns with battery powered
candles instead of real ones. With so many people moving
about your house, someone could knock one over and start
a fire. The "Artificial Candle Pumpkin Light" flickers just like a real candle, but
without the hazard of a real flame. These
great lights will run for more than 72 Hours on one set of batteries, or they
can be powered by an AC adapter. They also work great to light artificial
pumpkins. We feel that Pumpkin Lights are the safest way to light a
pumpkin and highly recommend them. Pumpkin Lights are available
exclusively from
PumpkinLight.com.
If
you are holding your party in your house, make sure that you move any breakable pieces of
furniture or valuables to another room where they can't
be harmed. A forgotten heirloom
vase that hits the floor could ruin the night for you.
If you are inviting people that you don't know or trust
completely, lock away any valuables that might be
tempting to a dishonest person. This is particularly
important if you will be allowing your invited guests
to bring someone with them that you have never met.
Be sure to remove any prescription medications from the
bathroom that your guests will be using.
Ask your
closest friends to help you keep an eye on things.
Its
a good idea to inform your insurance company in advance
that you will be holding a Halloween party to make
sure that you are covered by your home-owners or other
insurance. If your current insurance won't cover your
party for damage, injury and theft, ask your insurance
agent about getting a waiver or some type of special
insurance for one night.
Make sure that you have a first
aid kit on hand just in case of very minor injuries.
If
alcohol is provided or allowed at the party, keep an eye
on the drinking, don't let it get out of hand. Don't let anyone that
has been drinking drive. Take their keys if you have to.
We know a person that takes keys at the door when
guests arrive, just in case. Have one person stay sober and offer to
drive those people home who may be too intoxicated to
drive. If not, you can either drive them home yourself
(if you are sober),
let them spend the night at your house or call them a
taxi.
Click here for more
suggestions when serving alcohol at a party.
When
deciding on a menu, check to see if anyone attending
the party has any food allergies that might become a
health problem.
People becoming ill from common food allergies can really put a damper on their festivities.
Make
sure that you put any pets 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
people come and go. The best bet is to just put them in
a room with plenty of food and water for the night and
check on them periodically to let them know everything
is fine. For more information about keeping your pet's
safe during Halloween, read Halloween Online's
Pet Safety Guide.
