Halloween Safety Tips

From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents. To help make it a trick-free treat, follow these simple halloween safety tips.

Halloween Safety Tips

Children love Halloween because of the costumes and treats. But the holiday also brings serious safety risks. Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as they are other nights of the year. Burns and cuts also are common on Halloween, and then there’s problems caused by candy.

Halloween can be safely enjoyed — especially when parents put care into planning and supervision. Follow these halloween safety tips.

Walk Safely

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
5. the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
6. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
7. Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Costumes for a Safe Halloween

1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Get rid of any distractions – like your phone – in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
5. Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert for kids during those hours.

For homeowners:

• Turn on outdoor lights, and replace burnt-out bulbs.
• Remove items from your yard or porch that might trip a child.
• Sweep wet leaves from your steps and driveway.
• Use alternative to candles in your pumpkins, such as a flashlight or a battery-operated candle.
• Some children have food allergies. Consider giving treats other than candy, such as stickers, erasers or a small toy.
• Put out a teal-coloured pumpkin or a poster of one in your window to let children with food allergies know that what you’re handing out is allergen-free (e.g., not food).

For parents:

• Do not use masks. Masks make it hard for children to see what’s around them, including cars. Try a hypoallergenic (less likely to cause an allergic reaction), non-toxic make-up kit instead.
• Make or buy costumes in light-coloured material.
• Place strips of reflective tape on the back and front of costumes, so that drivers can better see your child.
• Costumes should fit properly to prevent trips and falls. Avoid items such as oversized shoes, high heels, long dresses and long capes.
• Dress your child for the weather. Add layers if needed.
• Put your child’s name, address and phone number on their costume.
• Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult for trick or treating. By the age of 10, some children are ready to go trick-or-treating with a group of friends.
• Keep in mind that gum and hard candy can pose a choking risk for young children.
• Remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

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