Spooky Good Tips to Stay Safe this Halloween
The leaves are falling, pumpkins are getting carved, candy is getting bought, and Halloween is right around the corner. While all of these are signs of fun, we need to make sure that safety is not an afterthought. Find some helpful resources and tips to stay safe on this spooky fun holiday!
Make Sure All Costumes Are Safe to Wear
To help ensure that all children and adults have a safe holiday, make sure that you are dressing safely for the season, and follow these tips:
Choose a costume that won’t become a safety hazard; all costumes, wigs, and accessories should be flame-resistant.
Be seen by people and cars around you by wearing bright colors or adding them to your costume. Even putting reflective tape works for better visibility. ¹
Avoid masks that can obscure your vision and long costumes that could be a tripping hazard.
Dress for the forecast in your area, no matter if it’s chilly or raining; superheroes don’t want to catch a cold.
How to Stay Safe on The Streets
Halloween is the holiday when children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car than any other day of the year. ² The lack of visibility at night and increase in foot traffic also play a factor in incidents. Follow these tips to stay safe when you and your children are out on Halloween night:
Young children need to always be accompanied by an adult at all times and should not wander off on their own at any time.
Plan with older children and help them to find the safest route to take.
Stick to familiar neighborhoods and well-lit areas.
Agree on a specific time that children should arrive home.
Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home or car. ³
Tell children not to eat any treats when they return home, and adults can inspect candy.
Make Sure All Treats Aren’t Tricks
Candy is a Halloween staple; it wouldn’t be the same without it. If your children are out trick-or-treating, it’s important to inspect what’s in their bags. Here are a few tips to make sure the treats stay safe:
Inspect candy before children eat it. Look at all wrappers for discoloration or torn wrappers. If anything looks off with wrappers, make sure to discard the candy. ⁴
Avoid anything that is homemade or not commercially wrapped candy. Homemade treats can carry a higher risk of allergens or tampering.
Remove choking hazards for younger children, such as hard candies, gum, peanuts, and small toys.
Make sure to check the ingredients of all candy for common allergens. ⁵ The most common allergens to be on the lookout for are peanuts, tree nuts, or gluten. If you spot someone having an allergic reaction, make sure to seek medical attention immediately.
Know the difference between candy and medications that have a similar appearance. View a chart from the National Poison Center to learn more. ⁶ If your child ever ingests medication instead of candy, be sure to call the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222, which is available 24/7.
Be On the Lookout While on The Road
It is important to watch for pedestrians on any night of the week, but especially on Halloween. Everyone, both driving and walking, should get to their destinations safely. Here are some ways to stay safe on the road:
Watch for children in dark colored costumes, especially when the sun has gone down.
Drive slowly, as driving too fast makes it difficult to stop for pedestrians and increases the severity of collisions and injuries. ⁷
Take extra care when backing out of your driveway, as young children are smaller and more difficult to see while backing up.
Be on the lookout for pedestrians when crossing the street. Children are less focused on traffic when trick-or-treating and may have a harder time seeing cars depending on their costumes.
Keep an eye on the road, not on your phone. Distracted driving increases the likelihood of a collision, especially when pedestrians are out more on Halloween.
NEVER get behind the wheel when under the influence. Alcohol impairs your perception, motor control, and reaction time, which is a potentially deadly combination for you and others. ⁸
Make sure that Halloween stays a special time for candy, costumes, and core memories, with these tips and tricks. That way, you can enjoy your night with peace of mind.
