Halloween Smart Home Safety Tips
By David R. Corio, ACS Security
Halloween is a night when some of our best childhood memories are created, just as long as things are fun scary, not actually scary. With a bit of planning, you can create a festive, safe celebration for everyone this October. If you’re looking to bring some tech into your decorations this year, you can set the perfect mood for Halloween night using your home automation security system while also keeping an eye on your trick-or-treaters.
Here are some of our favorite "haunted" smart home features:
Connect Outdoor Decorations to a Smart Plug: Decorating the front lawn is a great way to celebrate Halloween and go the extra festive mile. You can also save electricity by using smart plugs and timers on all your inflatable yard decorations!
Flickering Smart Lights: If you’re already utilizing smart lights with remote control through your app, you can manually flicker them to create the perfect strobe effect! Consider exchanging your bright white light bulbs with orange or dark purple shades to add an extra effect.
Automated Fog Machines: Create the perfect entrance for trick-or-treaters! Just plug a fog machine into a smart socket and control it directly from your Alarm.com app!
When you’re out of the house with your own trick-or-treaters, keep these important safety tips in mind:
Design Costumes for Visibility: Glow sticks, flashlights, and reflector tape can help ensure drivers see your children in the street. Incorporating these safety features into the theme of your child’s costume might take a little creativity, but they often add another layer to really take the festivities up a notch.
Make Eye Contact with Drivers: Nothing beats the golden rule of intersections: always look both ways before you cross!
Know Where to Go: If your kids are getting to the age where they can trick or treat without an adult escort, make sure they stick to familiar areas and that you know the route they will take. Sharing their location on smartphones is another easy way to keep tabs on their whereabouts.
Safety always comes first. Keep these basic precautions in mind and always test any new installations to make sure they work properly. But most importantly, have fun!