13 autumn safety tips to keep you and your family safe

Summer’s nearly over, but that doesn’t mean safety can take a back seat. As the nights draw in and plans move indoors, a few simple autumn safety tips can help keep your home and family safe.

Autumn and the following festive season are still some of the best times of the year – full of parties, celebrations, and cosy nights in front of the fireplace. But whilst you may not be venturing out and about as much as the weather cools, there are still plenty of hazards you could run into at home or elsewhere.

Keep reading as we explore 13 crucial ways to try and keep your family and home safe this autumn. Think of this as your autumn home safety checklist – from autumn home security tips and fire safety to Halloween, Bonfire Night, health, pets and online scams.

1. Fire safety: Don’t burn leaves

Is there anything more autumnal than the leaves turning orange and falling from the trees? Fallen leaves can create beautiful sights and scenery throughout autumn, but they can also become hazardous.

To keep their gardens neat and tidy, many people like to rake fallen leaves into piles. However, if you do this, make sure you don’t burn these leaf piles in an effort to keep your garden clean. Sodden leaves can release harmful chemicals into the air when burned, in addition to potentially causing a nuisance. 

Another potential hazard related to wet leaves is children playing in leaf piles. This may seem like harmless fun, but anything could end up in these leaf piles if they’ve been left there for a while, including sharp objects or animals, that could hurt your child. 

2. Fire safety: Blow out the candles

As the weather gets cooler and the nights get longer, it’s the perfect time to light some candles and really amp up the cosy atmosphere. 

However, it’s important to remember basic fire safety and to never leave lit candles unattended. Blow out your candles before you leave the house or go to bed and never keep them within the reach of children or pets. Open flames should also be kept away from any flammable materials to prevent house fires

3. Fire safety: Check heaters and fireplaces

As the days and nights get colder, you might want to cosy up and turn on the heating or light the fireplace, to feel a bit warmer this autumn and winter. But before you do, you should take the time to thoroughly check the condition of your heaters and fireplaces – especially since they’ve most likely been unused all summer.

If you use a fireplace or wood-burner, have the chimney swept and checked before you light the first fire of the season. Built-up soot, debris and bird nests can increase the risk of chimney fires and smoke backing up into your home.

Perform a proper inspection to ensure your heaters are working properly and your fireplace is clean, as this will help to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, or to help the fire burn safely.

If you use space heaters, remember to never leave them on while unattended. Space heaters can also cause fires if they’re placed too close to other objects, so leave a clear space around them. It also goes without saying that you should turn off your space heater before going to bed or leaving the house.

4. Fire safety: Check your alarms

Another thing you should check this autumn is your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Like with heaters and fireplaces, to keep you and your family safe, it’s essential that you regularly inspect and maintain your smoke detectors and alarms – as you may not even realise they’re not working properly until it’s too late. 

When you check your alarms this autumn, try to:

• Press the test button on each smoke and carbon monoxide detector

• Gently vacuum around the alarms to clear dust

• Check how old each unit is and replace any that are past their recommended lifespan

You should also replace your batteries once a year to stay on the safe side. Autumn is a great time to do this, as you can coordinate your alarm inspection and battery changing when preparing for the clocks going back in October. Taken together, these autumn fire safety tips reduce the chance of a fire starting. And by checking your alarms, you're ensuring that you’re alerted quickly if something does go wrong.

5. Home security: Install a security system

Everyone moans about the days getting shorter in autumn, but one group of people who aren’t complaining are those who may attempt to burgle your home.

Darker evenings make it easier for intruders to see which homes look empty, and to move around without being noticed. Simple habits can help, such as always locking doors and windows, setting a few lights on timers at dusk, and keeping sheds, garages and side gates secured.

For extra autumn home security tips, think about the outside of your home too. Look at trimming back overgrown shrubs near doors and windows, and adding outdoor lighting around paths and entrances so there are fewer dark corners to hide in.

You should also consider investing in a comprehensive home security system from SimpliSafe. 

Our security systems can include a wide range of home security products, including motion sensors and outdoor cameras with motion-activated spotlights, so you can catch criminals in the act despite the darkness. To create a truly bespoke solution, you can also build your own security system and create one that’s perfect for you and your home.

Many people also opt to combine their home security systems with a 24/7 professional monitoring service. This means that you can rest assured that on the dark nights where burglars may be targeting your home, your home has professionals who can verify any break-ins and send support – even when you’re away. 

6. Halloween safety

One of the major highlights of autumn is Halloween. Whether you like to dress up, go to Halloween parties, or stay at home to provide sweets for trick-or-treaters, Halloween can be great fun for all ages.

However, Halloween certainly isn’t the time to throw all your safety knowledge out the window! If you have children who are going trick or treating, make sure they will be visible in the dark. Giving them some glow sticks or torches can be a great way to do this, or you could incorporate visibility into their costume with bright or glow-in-the-dark elements. For younger children, it’s a good idea to supervise them while trick or treating and to go earlier in the evening when it’s a little lighter.

It’s also worth thinking about safety at the front door. Keep your path and doorway well-lit so you can see who’s calling and consider using a Video Doorbell Pro if you’d like to check who’s there before you open the door. If you’re heading out to a party instead of staying in for trick-or-treaters, set your alarm before you leave and leave a couple of lights on, so your home still looks lived-in.

If you like to carve pumpkins, just be careful with your hands and use the right tools – a giant kitchen knife may be a bit overkill! Head to your local supermarket for a child-friendly pumpkin carving kit – designed to safely help you create your spooky masterpiece. Always supervise children if they’re carving pumpkins too, to prevent them from getting hurt.

7. Firework safety

Don’t forget about Bonfire Night in November, too! This classic British tradition has been celebrated for hundreds of years, but unfortunately, many people injure themselves due to the bonfires and fireworks.

We would always recommend attending an official fireworks display rather than trying to set up your own bonfire and fireworks. But, if you do choose to do it yourself, make sure you have enough space for everyone to stand far back. There should always be a designated responsible adult who’s in charge of the fire and fireworks, and they should stay sober and wear non-flammable clothing for the duration of the display.

If you have kids over five, you may decide to let them have a sparkler. This can be a lot of fun for them, but make sure they understand how to handle them at a safe distance – they should also be wearing gloves and non-flammable clothing. A great parenting hack is to place the sparkler in a carrot, so your children have something sturdy to keep ahold of, and the sparkles stay far away from their hands. Keep a bucket of cold water near you to properly extinguish the sparkler when it burns out.

8. Health and safety: Drive carefully

The darker days can also impact your safety on the road. 

Darker conditions naturally can make it harder to see some hazards, and with children now back at school, there’s a real danger of drivers not being able to see children properly as they walk from and to home.

It’s a good idea to give your children backpacks with reflective material, so they’re more visible as they walk. This could also be a great time to talk to them about road safety, so that they’re reminded of sensible behaviour when walking by roads – perhaps even incorporated into more general child-friendly discussions about safety and home safety, and educational home safety activities.

Furthermore, throughout autumn and winter, it’s also important to drive more slowly and carefully to account for the wetter, darker conditions, even if there’s never any snow or ice on the road. Leaves, when wet, can be incredibly slippy – and unfortunately, there’s going to be an abundance of them. You may also want to keep some sunglasses in the car, as windshield glare can be more common when the sun is lower in the sky.

A few extra autumn driving safety tips can also help. Check that your tyres have enough tread, your windscreen wipers are in good condition, and your screenwash is topped up. It’s also sensible to keep a torch, phone charger and a warm layer in the car in case you break down in colder, darker conditions.

9. Health and safety: Wash your hands

Unfortunately, the arrival of autumn means the return of cold and flu season, which can be a real downer in addition to all these fun festivities. 

Although it's always important to wash your hands, especially when you’ve been out in public, you should definitely consider washing your hands more frequently to combat bacteria and viruses. You should also explain the importance of hygiene to children, who may be more likely to spread germs now that they’re back at school.

10. Health and safety: Get your vaccinations

If you want to top up your level of protection against the flu and COVID-19, you should consider getting a flu jab and/or COVID-19 booster vaccine. 

These vaccinations are particularly crucial for elderly and immunocompromised people. Not only can getting these vaccinations protect you, but they can also protect those around you by reducing the spread of disease in your community. 

11. Health and safety: Be careful on slippery surfaces

This may seem like obvious advice, but many people slip and fall each autumn and winter due to the wetter weather and flooding. 

In autumn, you’ll also find a lot of wet leaves on the ground, which can become very slippery and hazardous. Be careful when walking anywhere in the rain, wear sensible footwear when out and about, and make sure you hold onto handrails whenever you go up or down outdoor steps. You should also walk with your hands free to brace yourself if you do accidentally slip and fall!

Around the home, good lighting and grippy surfaces make a real difference. Add or check outdoor lighting on paths, steps and driveways, and consider non-slip mats or tape in areas that stay damp. Clearing leaves and puddles from porches and garden paths can also cut the risk of falls for family members and visitors.

12. Pet safety 

Keeping the family safe this autumn also includes protecting your furry family members. 

To keep pets safe during the cold weather, you need to make sure you’re keeping them warm, protecting their paws on cold surfaces when on walks, and making sure they’re eating enough. Whilst pets often have thick coats to keep them cosy, the cold can definitely still have an impact on their health. Install a temperature sensor to ensure not only that your family is warm enough at home, but your pets are too! 

These autumn safety tips for pets should also extend to your garden. If your pets go outside after dark, keep the area well-lit and make sure fences and gates are secure. An Outdoor Camera pointed towards your gate or side entrance can help you keep an eye on them and deter anyone thinking about pet theft.

13. Online safety and scams

As the lead-up to Christmas commences, you’ll be on the hunt to find the best deals – or may even be looking to book your summer holiday early as the winter blues begin to set in. 

Make sure to protect yourself during the Black Friday sales by securing your online shopping accounts and paying for items securely, through either a credit card or PayPal. Avoid any deals that may look too good to be true, especially if they come through email as they may actually be phishing emails.

To stay safe from Black Friday scams and other holiday scams, try to:

• Use strong, unique passwords and switch on two-factor authentication where it’s offered

• Type website addresses directly into your browser instead of clicking on links in unexpected emails or texts

• Double-check the seller’s details and reviews before you part with your money

Other common scams around autumn and winter include post scams – especially as these criminals know you may be having a lot of Christmas deliveries – and doorstep scams, with people manipulating your festive spirit and generosity by pretending to be charity workers. 

If you’re looking to book your next summer holiday, or want to escape for some winter sun, you should also be aware of common holiday scams. From “free holiday giveaways” to fraudulent passport scams, these criminals are just looking to steal your money, details, and even your identity! If it looks too good to be true, it most likely is.

Autumn home safety checklist

To round things off, here’s a quick autumn home safety checklist you can run through each year:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, change batteries and replace any out-of-date units

• Have your boiler, heating and any chimneys checked before the weather really turns

• Clear gutters, drains, steps and garden paths of leaves so water can drain and surfaces stay less slippery

• Lock doors, windows, sheds and side gates every evening, and set timers so lights come on around dusk

• Review your home security system (cameras, entry sensors and monitoring) before the darker nights set in

• Talk to children about road safety and staying visible on darker school runs and evening outings

• Check pets’ cold-weather needs and keep a close eye on them during fireworks and busy evenings

• Stay alert to Black Friday scams, parcel scams and holiday scams as the festive season gets underway

Autumn is a fantastic time of year, but don’t forget about the hazards it can bring. For more tips on keeping you, your family and your home safe throughout the year, visit the SimpliSafe blog or get in touch today for our expert advice.