Halloween Safety Tips
Keep Safe This Halloween!
It’s time for all the little (and not so little) ghouls and goblins to come out and play! Keep your Halloween safe, healthy, and fun with these simple tips.
Costume Safety
(As recommended by the National Safety Council)
- All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
- Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision
- If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
- When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is non-toxic and always test it in a small area first
- Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation
Pedestrian Safety
(As recommended by the Safe Kids Worldwide)
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Safety Tips for Motorists
(As recommended by the National Safety Council)
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
- Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
Food Safety Tips
(As recommended by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration)
- Snacking: Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Urge them to wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.
- Safe treats: Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
- Food allergies: If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.
- Choking hazards: If you have very young children, be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
Oral Health Tips
(As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry)
- Know your child and set limits accordingly: If your child naturally self regulates their candy consumption; great! Don’t add unnecessary rules that might cause them to rebel. On the other hand, most kids will need help with guidelines or even strict limits.
- Keep it fun: Don’t let the worry over the sugar ruin the holiday. The fun of Halloween trick-or-treating is a huge part of childhood and ends so quickly.
- Bring on the water: Have water bottles filled with tap water on hand whenever they’re eating candy or chocolate. Teach them to swish the water around in their mouths to rinse off their teeth as soon as they’re done eating.
- Encourage extra brushing: On Halloween night, do extra supervised tooth brushing, flossing and consider having them use a fluoride mouth rinse.
- Trade in the worst candy offenders: Not all sweet treats are created equal. AAPD created the helpful Candy Sorter Grid to show the different rankings of Halloween candy, from treats to avoid to best choices.
Enjoy a Healthy Halloween
Create a safety plan with the kiddos, and then head out and enjoy some spooky fun!
We Want to Hear from You!
How are you safe at Halloween? Let us know below!
