It’s finally here, Pumpkin carving time! Kids, teens and even adults wait all year to carve their spooky Jack-O-Lantern’s for Halloween night! Although carving pumpkins can be fun for the whole family, it can also be dangerous and turn Halloween into a nightmare. Pumpkins can be both slippery and tough, a recipe for accidents.

Follow some of these helpful safety tips when you’re carving your pumpkin this year:

Use the right tools: Consumer Reports tested pumpkin-carving kits a few years ago and observed that one advantage of the specialty tools was that they can saw through rinds, poke holes, and scoop out innards without being razor-sharp. The instruments were also generally small, which made them easier to control than knives and easier to use when making intricate cuts.

Carve before taking off the top of the pumpkin: Carving the pumpkin before cutting the top off will help you avoid accidentally sticking your hand in the pumpkin while cutting inwards.

Take precautions: Carve in a clean, dry, and well-lit area, keeping your hands and tools clean and dry. Most important, take your time. Remember, this is a fun activity and fun shouldn’t be rushed!

Don’t let kids carve: It is important to not let young children carve by them selves. Instead, have children draw markings on the pumpkin and help clean the innards out with a spoon or their hands. If you have a young teen and they are trusted with a knife, be sure they are using a short knife and supervise as they are carving.

Halloween and fall activities are fun for everyone. Make sure you are enforcing safety this year while you share these activities with the ones you love. Practicing safety can help prevent you from having your own “Nightmare before Halloween”.

At C.H. Edwards, Inc., we take pride in offering you helpful information so that you can make the most of the time you spend with your family. Call us if we can be of assistance with any of your Halloween related claims.

The Management and Staff at C.H. Edwards, Inc. wish you a Happy and Safe Halloween!