As people of all ages prepare their Halloween costumes, everyone should remember that safety is key to having a fun Halloween night.
American Red Cross, the Department of Home Security and many other organizations provided the following tips to keep trick-or-treaters safe during Halloween:
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Tips for trick-or-treaters and parents or guardians of trick-or-treaters
- Walk, don’t run
- See and be seen
- Use face makeup instead of masks which make seeing difficult.
- Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.
- Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
- Have everyone wear light-colored clothing
- Know where your children are going. Accompany young children
- Only visit homes with a porch light on
- Accept treats at the door, never go inside
- Adults should check the candy before eating
- Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.
- Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Children are twice as likely to be injured in a vehicle or pedestrian accident on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, according to the Department of Home Security.
- Be aware of and avoid open flames like candles in jack-o’-lanterns
Tips for people welcoming trick-or-treaters
- Light the area well so young visitors can see
- Sweep leaves from sidewalks and steps. Clear your front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.
- Restrain pets so they don’t jump on or bite a trick-or-treater
Driving on Halloween
- Slow down and be alert for children in neighborhoods
- Turn on headlights
- Take extra time, look for children in intersections, medians and on curbs
- Enter and exit driveways slowly
