5 Tips For Staying Safe While Trick Or Treating This Halloween

Halloween is fast becoming one of the most popular holidays of the year. Trick or treating is the icing on the Halloween cake. What’s not to love - free candy, fun costumes and being with family and friends? But, it’s important not to let the excitement of the holiday overshadow the need for being diligent to keep kids safe while trick or treating. Here are tips to stay safe while trick or treating this Halloween:

1. Make Sure Your Child Can See And Be Seen Clearly: Masks, hats and wigs can sometimes obscure your child’s vision, making him vulnerable to tripping over things on a dark Halloween night or worse being unable to judge distance of oncoming cars as he tries to cross the street. Take a look at your child’s costume to evaluate how well he can see. If need be, enlarge mask eye holes with scissors or tighten hats or wigs that are falling into your child’s face. Stick bright reflective tape on your child’s trick or treat bag or have your child wear a neon necklace so your child can be easily seen in the dark.

2. Make Sure Your Child’s Costume Is Flame Resistant: If you are making the costume yourself, use flame resistant materials. If you are buying your child’s costume, make sure the label specifically says “made with flame resistant materials.” This is because candles and jack lanterns bearing candles are rampant on Halloween. Many child’s costumes are long and flowing both at arm and foot level. It’s very easy for even a careful child to come in contact with a candle’s flame.

3. Accompany Your Child At All Times: It is very common for rushed children to run ahead of parents in the excitement of trick or treating. Children have a hard enough time safely crossing the street on a bright sunny day because of their size, their inability to accurately judge distance and speed, and their age or developmental level, but this process is much harder in the dark of Halloween night, when kids are running between parked cards and trying to quickly get from one home to another. Make sure your child understands running ahead of you is dangerous and unacceptable.

4. Make Sure Children Understand Not To Consume Anything Until You Inspect It: Although tampered-with candy is rare, make sure your child understands that he can not put anything in his mouth until you check it at home. You need to be able to inspect items in a well-lit area to make sure the items are wrapped, sealed and fresh. Also, some homes give out specialty items like stickers, erasers, and coins, so it’s important that small children do not mistake these items for candy and pop them into their mouths.

5. Never Approach A Home That Is Not Fully Lit Or Enter A Stranger’s Home: Not everyone welcomes trick or treaters. The universal signal of a trick or treating participant is turning on a porch light or standing outside to distribute candy. Never allow your child to approach a home that doesn’t meet this criteria. Make sure children understand they should NEVER enter the home of a stranger - no matter how good the candy or how enticing the promise.

Trick or Treating is one of the most anticipated activities of the year. Make sure your child has the good time he has anticipated by keeping him safe so you will both have fun memories to savor.