Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is one of the most fun nights of the year for kids—but between dark streets, masks, candles, and excited children darting everywhere, it also brings some serious safety risks. A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping the night all treats and no tragedy.

Costumes

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective, and decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers—or send the kids out with glow sticks or flashlights so they can see and be seen by drivers.
• Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping or entanglement. Avoid oversized and high-heeled shoes.
• Choose non-toxic face paint and makeup instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. Always test makeup on a small area first.
• Decorative hats are a safer alternative to masks, but they should fit properly so they don’t slide over the eyes.
• Put a nametag—with your phone number—on your children’s costumes.

Trick-or-Treating Ground Rules

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you, and agree on a specific time they should return home.
• Make sure everyone stays in a group, communicates where they’re going, and carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on, and never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home or car.
• Be sure they know your name (not just “mommy” or “daddy”), your cell phone number, and their address, and review with them how to call 9-1-1.
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home. Then closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items.

Walking Safely

• Put electronic devices down, keep heads up, and walk—don’t run—across the street.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross.
• Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars. Just because one car stops doesn’t mean others will!
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths on lit streets. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic, as far to the side as possible.

If You’re Driving

• Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals. Drive at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit to give yourself extra time to react to children who may dart into the street.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs.
• Get rid of any distractions—like your phone—so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

At Your Home

• Do not place candlelit pumpkins on the porch or any path where visitors may pass close by, and never leave them unattended.
• Keep the porch and front yard clear of anything a child could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes, and lawn decorations.
• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

Have a safe and happy Halloween—stay aware, stay visible, and stay together!