Halloween is a great time of year…especially for kids. Here are some safety tips to keep everyone safe!
Fun and Safe Costumes
- Costumes should be light colored, bright and reflective.
- Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping or contact with flame.
- Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags so children are more visible after dark.
- Masks can limit or block eyesight. Non-toxic makeup and decorative hats provide safer alternatives.
- When shopping for costumes purchase those labeled as flame resistant.
- Remind children to keep away from open fires and candles.
- If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of the costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. Children can be easily hurt by these accessories if they stumble or trip.
- Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. Obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous. It can cause pain, inflammation, serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
- Review with your children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
Home Safety
- Small children should never carve pumpkins. A safe alternative is to have your children draw a face with markers and then you can do the cutting.
- Use a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin.
- Keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters by removing trip hazards from the porch and front yard.
- Make sure all outdoor lights are working and on.
- Remove leaves or snow from sidewalks and steps.
- Restrain pets so they do not jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
Trick or Treating
- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children.
- Use flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route that is acceptable to you.
- Set agreed-to boundaries with your children. Explain the importance of staying within them and arriving home on time.
- Only go to homes with a porch light on.
- Make sure children know they should only accept treats at the door and must not get into cars or enter the homes or apartments of strangers.
- Pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries on Halloween, so remind Trick-or-Treaters:
- Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going. Do not trick or treat alone.
- Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
- Carry a cellphone for quick communication, but put it down while crossing the street.
- Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
- Never cut across yards or use alleys.
- Look both ways before crossing the street and only cross as a group in established crosswalks. Never cross between parked cars or at driveways.
- Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
- Remind children not to eat their treats until checked by an adult. Candy should not be eaten if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
Alternatives to traditional trick-or-treating
- Community centres often offer Halloween night activities.
- Malls often have trick-or-treat nights for young children in a warm and more controlled environment.
- Plan a Halloween night at home with games and movies.
Safety Tips for Motorists
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
- Slow down and be alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
