Halloween Safety and Tips

Halloween is a hauntingly exciting time of year where families and friends dress up in costumes to celebrate the occasion. Though Halloween can be a fun night, it can also be dangerous. For kids and teenagers, trick-or-treating is the highlight of Halloween. For others, throwing costume parties and celebrating with friends are more their vibe. Subsequently, Halloween can be one of the most dangerous nights of the year. Not only are there more drunk drivers on the road, upwards of 40 million children and families take to the streets to go trick-or-treating.

Enjoy a safe and spooky Halloween by following these tips:

Costumes

Costumes are a great way to celebrate Halloween and unleash your inner undead or supernatural self. However, there are plenty of safety precautions that should be considered before dawning your cape or space helmet.

1. Plan costumes that are bright or reflective. It’s important to make sure that children are visible at night, especially while trick-or-treating in dimly lit areas. Give your child a flashlight to carry to light their way and make them easy to spot in the dark. Consider adding a reflective strip to their costume to add an extra layer of visibility.
2. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent a tripping hazard.
3. Look for flame resistant materials. Your child should always be supervised by an adult when lighting jack-o-lanterns. Additionally, make sure they’re wearing a costume made of flame-resistant materials in case they ever come into contact with one.
4. Consider non-toxic makeup. Makeup can often be the finishing touch for any costume. If they are going to dawn face painting or makeup, make sure it’s non-toxic and safe for skin. Also, do a test patch on a small patch of skin to watch for any allergic reactions.
5. Hats and masks should fit properly to prevent them from slipping downwards and obscuring vision.
6. Avoid any sharp objects such as swords, canes, sticks, etc. These objects could injure your child or another person.
7. Do not use cosmetic contact lenses without a proper eye examination or proper understanding of safe usage. Cosmetic contact lenses could potentially cause damage to your child’s eyes or eyesight. Improper use and hygiene could potentially lead to eye infections or physical damage to the eyes.

Pumpkins

Symbolically, pumpkins represent rebirth, fertility, and the harvest of crops. For those who go trick-or-treating, a glowing jack-o-lantern is a symbol that those who live there want a visit. Pumpkins are the most prominent symbol of Halloween and carving one can be fun for the entire family.

1. Never allow small children to carve pumpkins while unsupervised. Often times, pumpkin carving tools have sharp edges that could easily lead to injuries. Children should always be supervised while carving pumpkins, especially when lighting them.
2. Consider using a battery powered candle to flashlight to light your pumpkin.
3. Do not place candlelit pumpkins near flammable objects or near visitors.

At Home

1. Remove any tripping hazards. Additionally, remove heavy objects which could get pushed over and injure a visitor.
2. Check outdoor lights and make sure that walkways are well lit and visible.
3. Sweep wet leaves and remove foliage that visitors may slip on.
4. Restrain pets and keep them in an area where they cannot escape. Some pets are extremely anxious, so consider having a friend or family member stay with them during trick-or-treating hours.

Trick-or-Treating

1. Always accompany small children when they’re trick-or-tricking.
2. Never go into a home or vehicle to receive candy.
3. Make sure your children understand what to do in emergency situations. Rehearse calling 911 or other emergency contacts in case anything happens.
4. Teach your children how to reduce pedestrian injuries. Always look both ways before crossing the street and make sure they wait for an adult before crossing. Add an extra layer of protection by making sure your child is visible and is carrying a flashlight.