There's nothing spooky about Halloween safety. Consider these common-sense tips.
It's the time of year for tricks and treats, costumes and sweets. Put Halloween safety first with these common-sense tips.
Carving a niche
Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make it a family affair.
- Use markers. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers. Offer strips of brightly colored paper, costume jewels, glitter glue, washable paint or other decorations. Leave the carving to an adult.
- Invest in pumpkin cutters. With supervision, older children can carve their own pumpkins with special pumpkin cutters equipped with safety bars.
- Use candles with care. Votive candles — short candles often placed in special glass holders — are safest for candlelit pumpkins. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended.
Clever costumes
From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choose costumes wisely.
- The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials. If your child will be trick-or-treating outdoors after dark, attach reflective tape to his or her costume.
- Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.
- Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly makeup instead.
- Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — may pose safety hazards.
Trick or treat
The promise of Halloween candy may leave stars in your child's eyes. But safety still rules.
- Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings. Make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
- Stay close to home. Don't allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
- Set ground rules. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes and never going inside a home. You may want to give your child a cell phone for the evening should he or she need to contact you.
- Inspect the treats carefully. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Inspect the treats first — and discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.
- Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. Most candy remains fresh for at least several months. You may even ask your child if he or she would like to swap some — or all — of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing.
Home safe home
If you'll be handing out treats, make sure you're ready for trick-or-treaters.
- Clean up. Put away anything trick-or-treaters could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations. Clear wet leaves, snow and ice from the sidewalk.
- Turn the lights on. Replace any burned-out bulbs to ensure good visibility at your door and the walkway leading up to it.
- Control your pets. Take no chances that your pet might be frightened and chase or bite a child at your door.
- Consider sugar substitutes. Instead of handing out sugar-laden treats, try stickers, glittery pencils, rubber insects or colored chalk.
If you'll be driving on Halloween, watch for children who might pop out between parked cars. Be especially careful entering or leaving driveways and alleys. Extra caution can help ensure a safe night for everyone.
Last Updated: 10/18/2006
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