How to Practice Halloween Safety

Halloween is an exciting holiday for all ages, and individuals who know how to practice Halloween safety can ensure that there is nothing to be scared about during this frighteningly fun season. From making sure a costume is safe to properly monitoring candy to trick-or-treating safely, there are many things that can make the holiday safe for both children and adults.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Halloween costume
• Reflective tape
• Flashlight
• Pumpkins
• Pumpkin carving kit or knives
• Battery operated candles

1. Choose a Halloween costume that fits appropriately and does not restrict arm or leg movement. The costume should not be too long or it may cause tripping.

2. Add reflective tape to the costume. Large reflective areas or stripes are easiest to see, but adding tape as small accents that blend into the costume is also effective.

3. Add reflective tape to sneakers that will be worn while trick-or-treating.

4. Wear clothing and shoes under the costume suitable to the weather conditions to minimize chills that may cause illness.

5. Trick-or-treat only to known houses or safe neighborhoods and stay in well-lit areas. Avoid empty lots, industrial areas and other questionable locations.

6. Carry a flashlight to help with nighttime visibility.

7. Check all collected candy for rips, punctures or improper packaging. Discard any suspicious or unknown items.

8. Limit children’s candy ration to a few pieces each day to avoid stomachaches and other illnesses caused by too many sweets.

9. Carve pumpkins with safety-edged pumpkin carving kits. Adults should always supervise carving.

10. Use battery operated candles to eliminate the risk of fire or burns in jack-o-lanterns.

11. Keep outdoor lights on during the evening to provide good illumination for trick-or-treaters and to discourage Halloween pranks.

12. Keep family pets safely indoors during the evening to eliminate the chance of pranks or mischief.

Tips & Warnings

• Many communities offer supervised Halloween events that are safe and fun for the whole family. Churches, schools and city service departments may sponsor parties or trick-or-treating events as a safe alternative to spontaneous events.
• Consider throwing a Halloween party as an alternative to trick-or-treating or other potentially unsafe activities. Games, treats and costume contests can make the party more attractive than traditional activities.
• Some emergency care clinics and hospitals may offer free screening of Halloween candy. Contact a local facility for details.
• Many Halloween candies contain nuts or nut products and may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Always screen candy carefully with consideration for individual dietary needs to avoid potential problems.