Trick-or-treating, classroom parties and candy as far as you can walk; it’s a kids dream. For parents however, Halloween fun can seem dangerous with children going up to strangers houses, large crowds clogging the sidewalks, and the sugar rush that leads to bad decisions present. Did you know children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year?
That’s why we have put together this list of safety tips to try to keep everyone’s Halloween spooky and safe.
Costume Safety
- Fire-resistant. All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant. There are lots of candles, jack-o-lanterns and excitement on Halloween. By making sure everything is fire-resistant there is another line of defense against an accident.
- No masks. Masks can obstruct vision and cause a safety concern while walking the neighborhood.
- Use reflective tape. If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks so they can be easily seen by pedestrians and vehicles alike.
- Go nontoxic. When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first before applying it.
- Remove all makeup before going to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
Trick-or-Treating Safety
- An adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
- Have a plan. If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route or boundary that is acceptable to you
- Stranger Danger. Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car
- Stay in the light. Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends and chaperones.
- Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home
- Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street
Halloween Driver Safety
The best piece of advice is to avoid driving altogether on the evening of Halloween. Small children, lots of sugar, and crowded sidewalks put both you and pedestrians at risk. If you do have to hit the road, here are some tips to help
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- Watch out for children in dark clothing, especially at night
- Please discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
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