Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for children as they walk around their neighborhood decked out in magical costumes while collecting candy treats.  While it is a night of fun, it is important to keep some basic safety tips in mind so avoid any unnecessary scares.

• Give your child a flashlight or glow stick to help them see what is in front of them and help them to be seen by others.  Reflective tape on the costume is also helpful for making sure others see your child.

• Halloween is one of the top five days for fires caused by candles.  Don’t let children get too close to candles and other open flames in outdoor decorations such as jack-o-lanterns.  Even if the child is careful around the flames, flowing costumes mixed with excitement and lots of people can cause unintended fires.

• Help your child choose a costume that will be comfortable and safe.  Make sure that masks have good ventilation to keep oxygen flowing well.  Also make sure that your child’s vision isn’t impaired by the mask.  Are the eye holes large enough?  Is there tinting or other costuming that may hinder vision and possibly cause your child to stumble on something unseen or more seriously, not be able to clearly check the roads for oncoming traffic.  Try to avoid long costumes that drag the ground or stick out too much.  These can be fire hazards, cause your child to trip or bump into other children as everyone crowds onto a doorstep looking for candy.

• If a house does not have its light on at the front door then do not stop there for trick-or-treating.

• Young children should always go trick-or-treating with an adult even if they are with a group of other kids.  Older kids, perhaps 12 and over, may not need to be with an adult but should walk in a group, have a curfew, follow an agreed upon route, and possibly even carry a cell phone to keep in touch with parents along the way.

• Stick to well-lit sidewalks and avoid dark alleys.

• Check your town’s list for residences of sex offenders in your neighborhood and consider avoiding those houses altogether.

• Never enter a stranger’s home.

• And, the toughest safety tip of all…remind your children that they should not eat any candy until they have returned home and let you inspect it.  Candy should be discarded if the wrapper appears to be tampered with in any way.    Younger children may need to give up gum, hard candy, or any other small candy that may pose a choking hazard.

What are some other safety tips that you use to keep you and your family safe on Halloween night?