Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Halloween is a chance to transform into someone or something else while getting candy from strangers. At face value, the combination seems odd, but it’s an honored tradition that brings joy and fun to kids of all ages. It’s especially important to be aware of dangers in the night, both real and imagined! Here’s a guide to staying safe when trick-or-treating:
 
Carve out a route and keep safety in mind
 
If your kids are young, you or a trusted adult should chaperone the autumn adventure. If your kids are old enough to go out alone without adult supervision, the National Safety Council recommends planning the route with your child, setting a firm curfew, and reinforcing the importance of staying with a group. You’ll also want to make sure the path is in an area where you know your neighbors, minimizing the risk of having your children interact with strangers.

 

Dress and accessories should function well
 
Your child’s main concern with a Halloween costume is whether they’ll look cool, scary, or just like their favorite hero. But as a parent, your job is to ensure their costume is safe. You’ll want to avoid any ill-fitting costumes that could potentially cause a tripping hazard, and you should always ensure their costume of choice is flame retardant. KidsHealth, a website from Nemours Children’s Health, also suggests avoiding masks or accessories that might restrict visibility and opting for non-toxic makeup instead.
 
Focus on safe driving
 
Even if you’re not getting in on the Halloween festivities, you’ll need to do your part behind the wheel to keep trick-or-treaters safe. If you’re driving home near or during the designated trick-or-treating hours, make sure you have your lights on, drive at or below the speed limit, and keep your eyes out for kids. Laura Dattner, a research writer for the Nationwide Children’s Center for Injury Research and Policy, suggests being especially cautious at crosswalks and corners, as well as around vehicles that are stopped with their hazard lights on.

 

Light a clear path to and fro
 
Even if your trick-or-treat escapade starts before the sun goes down, chances are you’ll still be ringing doorbells after the sun has set. To increase your safety and the safety of your little ones, be sure to carry a flashlight to illuminate your path. The sidewalks and walkways can get bumpy, and you’ll want to avoid any collisions with other candy-seekers. Plus, you and your crew will want to be visible to motorists. Dattner notes using reflective tape on costumes or reflectors can be a great addition to help increase visibility.
 
If your plans center around handing out candy to eager children, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ parenting website Healthy Children suggests you make sure your home is brightly lit. Flip on your porch light and other outside lights so your guests can safely find their way to your porch and make sure there are no tripping hazards in the way.
 
Halloween can be a frightfully fun time of year, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t take care to prioritize safety. With proper planning and ensuring your children are on board with the rules, you can be more confident that trick-or-treat will be scary for all the right reasons.