Trick-Or-Treat Yourself To These Halloween Safety Tips

Trick-or-treating should be a scary good time. Don’t let an injury or accident dampen the fun. Here are some Halloween Safety Tips to ensure your little monsters have a safe and successful time:

• Be visible. A ninja’s stealth is awesome but being invisible to cars and other trick-or-treaters is dangerous. For costumes that blend into the night (or costumes in general) add bright, reflective tape to sleeves or candy bags/containers.
• Choose a costume wisely. Trick-or-treating requires you to walk door-to-door. Regardless of the costume, children should wear comfortable shoes that fit well, and costumes that won’t drag. It’s a trip hazard!
• Go with a parent or responsible adult. With hundreds of strangers out and about on Halloween, children should never trick-or-treat alone. Young children should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. For older children who insist on going with their friends, review what streets they plan to take, mark designated check-in times, and set a strict curfew. Remember: children should never approach a dark home. If the lights are off, skip it, and go on to the next house.
• Use a flashlight. The sun sets early in October. Bring a flashlight to light the way!
• Sidewalks or bust. Halloween decorations aren’t as popular as Christmas decorations but many people do stick decor in their front yard. Plus, there are trip hazards like hidden divots and slopes. Never cut across yards or use alleys. Take the extra few minutes to walk down the driveway, over the sidewalk, and then up the next driveway.
• Cross at corners. Never dash across the middle of the street, especially at night. Cross at corners or designated crosswalks.
• Check the treats. Children should never eat candy you haven’t checked. Tampering is rare (and illegal), but parents should comb through candy piles and toss anything spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious.