Halloween Safety Tips!

Monsters, goblins, and superheroes will soon be descending on homes everywhere. While Halloween is a time for fun and treats, it's not near as easy to let the kiddos out into the world as it used to be or to be able to trust your fellow neighbor, and it's important to stay safe. 

Here are a few tips to make this year's holiday a fun one and a safe one:

Costumes (you can even have a "Costume Fashion Show" with the kids to check these):

• Look for flame-resistant materials for costumes and be particularly aware of open flames  in Jack O' Lanterns
• Choose costumes that do not have sharp objects attached to masks or the costume itself
• Beware of costumes with big baggy sleeves or billowing skirts; costumes should be shirt enough to prevent children from tripping and falling
• Make sure masks allow for full vision; if possible, apply non-toxic face paint or cosmetics as an alternative to masks - always test make-up in a small area first, in case of rash or allergic reaction 
• If your child wears a hat or scarf, make sure it fits securely and provides adequate ventilation 
• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible
• Make sure children wear properly fitting shoes
• Plan costumes with highly visible colors
• Add reflective tape or stickers to costumes and treat bags or have the child wear a reflective bracelet
• Attach each child's name, address, and phone number to their clothes, in case they becomes separated from adults
• If it's chilly, make sure to bundle up - it may be tempting to show off that costume, but if the temperature is dropping, bring a jacket and/or opt for thermal underwear

Trick-or-Treating:

The most important thing to remember to make children visible to automobile drivers. A child is four times more likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than any other time.

• Give kids flashlights to carry
• Accompany your children when trick-or-treating
• If your children are old enough to trick-or-treat by themselves, have them go in groups - even if only on your block or in your building (make sure they have a cell phone with them)
• Allow children to travel only in familiar areas
• Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them and set a curfew; check your local sex offender registries and plan accordingly
• Stay away from darkened house and stick to houses with their porch lights on and decorations celebrating the Halloween spirit
• Don't trick-or-treat too late - start off in daylight or around dusk and make sure to wrap it up before it gets too late
• Remind children to follow the rules of crossing streets - look both ways and cross only at intersections and crosswalks, as well as walking, instead of running from place to place and avoiding taking shortcuts (alleys, fields, etc; stick to well-lit streets) - also avoid neighborhood animals, never assuming they are friendly
• Use battery-powered jack o' lantern candles for your own house. Place pumpkins with real flames well away from where trick-or-treaters will be waling or standing 
• Remind your children to never go into a stranger's house, garage, or backyard and to never take a ride from a stranger

Candy:

• Feed kids a good meal before trick-or-treating, so they won't be as tempted to eat any candy before they bring it home for you to check
• Do not allow children to eat any treats until they've been sorted and checked by an adult at home in good light
• Throw candy away if it appears to have been unwrapped and re-wrapped, is free and open from any packaging, has been personally-wrapped instead of professionally, has a faded wrapper, or has holes or tears
• Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use
• Limit candy to prevent a child from getting an upset stomach or sick - make it a weekly treat or save it as a reward after that night

This Halloween, be safe and smart, but not paranoid. There is no reason to scare your child, but be sure to trust your parental instincts. Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Check out this printable Trick-or-Treating checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind!