Bryan Rollins
Trick-or-treating for Halloween is a fun family tradition for many people, but doing it safely is something to be aware of as you visit house to house. Most risks to your child on Halloween are safety issues surrounding traffic and costumes. Have your kids follow these Halloween safety tips for a fun-filled evening without incident.
Traffic and costumes
- Make sure costumes, masks, and shoes fit well. Costumes shouldn’t drag the ground posing a tripping hazard.
- Avoid masks. Instead, use makeup and well-fitting hats or wigs so vision isn’t obstructed.
- Avoid high heels.
- Try to find flame resistant costumes and make sure kids keep their distance from lit pumpkins and luminaries.
- If walking on roads, walk facing the oncoming traffic. Where possible, stay off the road completely.
- When crossing streets, use crosswalks if possible, and look both ways twice. If at a stop sign or light, make sure traffic comes to a complete halt before crossing.
- Don’t cross the street between parked cars or where drivers’ views might be obstructed.
- Carry a flashlight so cars and bicycles can easily spot you. Also, wear something reflective or add reflective tape to costumes and bags. Wearing a glow stick is another option.
- Props, such as swords and knives, should be short, soft, and flexible to avoid injury to self or others.
- Don’t wear colored contact lenses unless they’re prescribed for the child wearing them. They can cause severe eye damage otherwise even if they are non-prescription sold solely for the purpose of changing eye color.
Safety tips for trick-or-treat house visits
- Young children should go trick-or-treating with an adult.
- Older kids should trick-or-treat with a friend or preferably in a group.
- Tell your kids not to step inside the homes or cars of strangers or even acquaintances you haven’t pre-approved. Tell your kids what to say if they’re invited in so they’re prepared. Your child can be direct and just say, “My parents told me I have to wait outside.”
- Give your kids a curfew so you know what time to expect them home.
- Know what route they plan to take. Make sure it’s in safe neighborhoods and that they won’t have to walk through secluded areas to get there.
- Only go to houses with porch lights on.
- Have kids carry a cell phone and make sure they know how to use it to dial 9-1-1.
- Add a tracking app to their phones such as Family Tracker, Glympse, Footprints, FamilySignal, or Life360.
Safety tips for visiting trick-or-treaters
- Keep cords and tripping hazards out of your driveway and walkway.
- Use glow sticks or solar lights in pumpkins and luminaries rather than candles.
- Pass out sealed candy. Otherwise, many parents won’t allow their children to eat it.
- Keep pets away from trick-or-treaters. Costumes and excited children can scare pets and lead to unexpected behavior.