Simple Halloween Safety Tips for a Healthy Haunting

October 26, 2016

Everyone is excited for Halloween, especially all of our children. Hopefully this year we will be without rain, but it will likely be chilly..

Here are a few tips to remember for safe trick-or-treating:

Stay warm. Remember to dress warmly under those costumes, long sleeve shirts, coats, socks, and maybe a hat. No one wants to cut short their trick or treating because they are shivering!

Be visible to others. Sunset comes very early on Halloween. Wear something bright or reflective so that cars and other people can see you and your kids. Similarly, maintain your own ability to see by carrying a flashlight for the darker sidewalks and front porches. If your child is wearing a mask make sure they can see well out of it. Scraped knees are no fun unless they are part of your costume!

Costume up. Make sure that costumes are not too long so that your kids do not trip and that shoes fit well. If your child’s costume has a sword or a wand, be sure that it is not sharp just in case they fall or run into another child.

Be aware and stay in a group. If your kids are old enough to go out without direct adult supervision on Halloween, make sure they are with others. Also, make sure they have a cellphone to be able to communicate with you quickly, and that they have a planned path and time to return home that you have previously discussed.

Be safe. Only trick or treat on porches that have their lights on. Remind your kids to never enter the home and to never accept candy from a passer-by or a car. Try and stay on the sidewalks, but if there are no sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the street facing traffic. Only cross at crosswalks and make sure all vehicles have stopped before crossing the street.

The best part – sort the loot. When you arrive home after trick-or-treating, help your kids sort through the candy and throw away any open or suspicious looking candy. Enjoy a little candy, but be sure to save the rest for later. Lastly, brush teeth before falling into bed!

Written by Dr. Kate Messing with guidance from the AAP Halloween Safety Tips 2016.