Halloween is a fun night for children as they make their way from house to house wearing colorful costumes and calling out “trick or treat!” But safety is an issue on this all-important night for little witches, ghosts and goblins. Children often get so excited about candy, jack-o-lanterns and scary music emanating from mock up haunted houses that they run out into the street without watching for cars and often start eating their candy before they arrive at home. Parents, take the time to go over safety issues with your children before October 31st arrives.
Put Safety First with These Tips
If you have to work or are unable to take your kids out trick or treating make sure there is another responsible adult to accompany them, such as a family friend or another parent. This applies to children twelve years and under.
If your kids are older and you allow them to trick or treat by themselves, then always be aware of the route they will be taking for their Halloween trek. Encourage your kids to use the buddy system (trick or treat in pairs or even better, as a group).
Only allow children to trick or treat at houses where the people are known to them and only if the porch light is on.
Face paint is preferable to masks or hoods as part of the costume ensemble.
Light-colored costumes are easier to see in the dark and adding reflective strips improves them even more.
Make sure your children can move around comfortably in their costumes and are not in danger of tripping and falling.
Comfortable shoes or sneakers that fit well are the way to go (especially when those little ones get exuberant). Leave flip flops at home.
Advise children to walk and not run as they go about trick or treating.
It’s always a rule of safety but should be stressed even more vehemently on Halloween night- look left, look right and then look left again for traffic before crossing from one side of the street to the other.
Remind trick or treaters to walk on sidewalks when going house to house and in places where there is no sidewalk, or to walk on the left side of the street facing the traffic and not against it.
Caution children to avoid any darkened alleyways, parks or backyards and not to cut across anyone’s lawn.
Tell children not to cross the street from between parked cars, as drivers will not see them until it is too late. Instead advise them to go to a corner and from there, cross the street
For older children who go trick or treating with friends, make sure they have a set time to arrive back home (and parents make sure to enforce the Halloween curfew).
Parents, make sure to carry a flashlight with good batteries.
Caution children against accepting rides from strangers as well as accepting Halloween treats from a stranger who offers them from a vehicle.