BOO!

This Halloween, stay safe from scary surprises

It’s almost Halloween! It’s the time of year for hair-raising, bone-chilling and goose-bumping. But while most scares are harmless fun, others can have more frightening consequences. Here are some tips and tricks for a spooky, but safe, Halloween.

For parties

• If you’re using dry ice, make sure to keep it away from food — if ingested, it can cause severe injury. Refer to these safety suggestions from the National Weather Service.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
• If you’re often the party-thrower, consider a Personal Catastrophe Liability policy. This type of insurance adds extra liability coverage that offers financial protection in case a big accident occurs. Give us a call, and we can fill you in on how a Mastercover^SM policy from ERIE works.

Tips for drivers, parents and costumers

From the National Safety Council:

Drivers:

• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

Parents:

• Have an adult or responsible older child supervise trick-or-treating outings for kids under 12.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Use a flashlight to help you see and others see you.
• Only walk on the sidewalk, if available, or far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Remind kids never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Tell children to refrain from eating any treats until they get home.

Costume design:

• Get costumes made of fire-retardant materials.
• Make sure they’re loose so warm layers can be worn underneath.
• If kids will be out after dark, use light-colored materials or retro-reflective tape to increase visibility.

Treats:

• Feed kids an early meal before trick-or-treating begins.
• Inspect all treats before any are eaten.
• If fruit is received, wash it and slice into small pieces.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

ERIE^® insurance services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.