The Associated Press

CLEAR THE WAY

First, remove hoses, ladders, planters and anything little ones can trip over. Repair cracks in paths using a concrete caulk, and smooth out uneven surfaces with a concrete patching product. Replace loose or damaged bricks and mortar, and check for rot in wood s.jpg and porches. Repair using a wood patch, or replace boards as needed.

Then make sure that all walking surfaces are clean and dry to prevent slipping.

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT

Halloween may be the "darkest" night of the year, but it doesn't have to be the deadliest. Use battery-powered jack-o-lanterns and chemical light sticks for decorations instead of candles, which can lead to fire.

It's also a good time to consider permanent path lighting that will make paths safe all year round -- a poorly lighted path is an accident waiting to happen.

Where more lighting is needed, such as at the front porch, consider motion-activated lighting. This type of light fixture turns on when a sensor detects motion, a feature that protects against intruders. Make a motion-activated front porch light fun for Halloween by replacing the standard bulb with a black light.

SOUND THE ALARM

There's no better time than Halloween to make sure that your doorbell is in good working order.

For a quick and easy fix, here's what to do: The most common doorbell problem is corrosion on the contacts. A little of it is all it takes to break the electrical connection. To fix it, turn off the power and remove the button cover. Then loosen the screws holding the wires, and clean each wire where it connects (using sandpaper or emery cloth) until they shine. Clean the screw contacts, too. Then reattach them, turn on the power and test.

If it still doesn't ring, replace the button. And just for Halloween you can change the door chime to one that mimics ghosts, ghouls and goblins.

You must be logged in to comment.