Halloween safety tips are put in the backburner when people think about the October holiday for many reasons. Kids love Halloween decorations, trick or treating, treats, and, a little fright. However, no one wants real scares regarding the health of our trick-or-treaters. Typically, kids are more likely to get hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than another normal day. The day is full of classroom parties, neighborhood haunted houses, and trick-or-treating.
Kids love it but for mothers and fathers, often there is a fine line between fun and health concerns, regarding pedestrian safety and car drivers. Luckily, there are many things parents and children can do to remain safe on the spookiest of holidays. Party R
The top tips for Halloween safety
- Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags, and wear light colors to help drivers see them better during the night.
- Supervise kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating.
- Drive slowly and be alert! Children like to run particularly on Halloween and may dash into the road. Turn on headlights earlier in the day to spot kids from further away.
- Remind your children to cross the street at corners or crosswalks.
- When choosing a costume, ensure it is the right size to prevent falls or trips. Pick face paint over masks whenever the situation allows. Masks can limit kids’ vision.
Walk Safely
- Tell your kids to across the street at corners, use traffic signs and crosswalks. Look left, both ways again when crossing.
- Put away electronic devices when crossing the street, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the road.
- Train kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Only walk on walkways or paths. When there are no walkways, walk facing traffic as far to one side as possible under the circumstances. Kids should walk on direct routes with the least road intersections.
- Watch for vehicles that are turning or backing up. Instruct youngsters to never dash out into the street or cross between parked vehicles.
- Accompany kids under age 12 for safe trick-or-treating. If you have responsible children that can go out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that have enough light and to trick-or-treat in groups of at least three.
Costumes for a safe Halloween
- Use reflective tape and stickers to decorate costumes and bags for better night viewing and, if conceivable, pick light colors.
- Pick face paint and makeup instead of masks, masks can hinder a kid’s vision.
- Have children carry glow sticks or flashlights to enable them to see and get seen by drivers.
- When choosing a Halloween costume, ensure it is the correct size to prevent trips and falls.
Driver safety tips on Halloween
Drive should drive slow particularly in residential neighborhoods. Kids are usually excited about Halloween and may move or run erratically.
- Take some time to search for children at an intersection, on medians and curbs.
- Enter and exit garages and alleys slowly and cautiously. If it’s possible get a family member to help you with the driving out directions.
- Put away your smartphone in your vehicle so you can focus your attention on your environment.
- Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot kids from farther away.
- Remember, popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Carving pumpkin tips
- Little kids should never carve pumpkins but can draw a pumpkin face with markers. Allow adults to do the cutting.
- Consider using a flashlight or glow stick rather than a candle to light your pumpkin. When you use a candle, a votive candle is safer.
- Set candlelit pumpkins on a robust table, away from window curtains and other flammable things, and not on the front porch stairs or anywhere where someone can tip it.
Healthy Halloween
- A decent meal before trick-or-treating will discourage kids from eating up all the Halloween treats.
- Consider buying non-food treats for trick-or-treaters who visit your home, for example, coloring books, pens, pencils, and toys.
- Wait until your kids are home to sort and check treats. Although candy tampering is uncommon, you can never be too careful so inspect all treats and discard any rotten, unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Attempt to ration treats for the next couple of days and weeks following Halloween.