Come the 31st neighborhood streets will be crawling with little monsters demanding candies and treats, and while some costumes are scarier than others, we don’t want Halloween to be scary for the wrong reasons. Let’s take a look at some neat ways of stepping up your Halloween safety game this year.
A Handheld GPS
Are your kids trick-or-treating with friends this year? Having the group equipped with handheld GPSs guarantees no one will lose their way. Check out the Garmin GPSMAP 64s – its water resistance, has an impressive 4GB of storage space (expandable using MicroSD), and boasts a clear, vibrant screen. Halloween aside, a handheld GPS is a great tool for camping too, so you can get many uses out of it.
Wearable LED Lights
It’s no secret that trick-or-treating is way more fun after dark! One of the best ways to keep this year’s Halloween accident-free is to arm your family with wearable LED lights to increase visibility. The Apache Vision wearable LED lights are a favorite but there are loads to choose from for everyone in the family, including your beloved pets.
2-Way Radios
If your children don’t have smartphones yet or you simply want to provide them with a backup plan, 2-way radios are a solid choice for communication. And if we’re being totally honest, we wouldn’t mind a throwback to our walkie talkie days. For reference, these are affordable, yet extremely versatile. They boast an impressive 32-mile range, built-in flashlights, and water resistance.
Panic Button Apps
Should an emergency situation occur, it’s normal for us to forget even simple details under duress. Fortunately, panic button apps simplify this process and save us valuable thinking time during a crisis.
There are tons of safety apps out there, but for Halloween safety, the Race Panic Button covers all your bases. The app has customizable settings that you can input ahead of time or simply use pre-programmed buttons for various emergency service situations. After choosing your preferred option, the app contacts authorities and shares vital details including your exact location for the quickest response.
Nextdoor App
Nextdoor offers a social network where you and your neighbors can share important information about what’s going on in your neighborhood. From safety to general cool happenings, Nextdoor goes beyond the nosy-neighbor (although, you may get a few of those) and provides you with real updates (including lost and found pets). Bonus: the app provides functionality for the neighbors to publicize whether or not they’re participating or foregoing Halloween celebrations this year. The app is available on both Android and Apple devices.
Keep the right gear on you, download the right apps, stay visible, and stay alert. Have a Happy Halloween!
