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Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is typically associated with lots of fun things to do like trick or treating, parties, pumpkin carving, and eating candy, but there are potential dangers families should consider. When planning festivities this year, keep these Halloween safety tips in mind:

  • Don’t keep candles burning in pumpkins/ luminaries. Use battery-operated flames.
  • Paint or decorate a pumpkin with stickers, since tools are difficult to use for small children.
  • Use flame-resistant costumes, wigs, and accessories. Ensure costume fits to avoid tripping and falling.
  • If applying face paint, avoid the eyes, and test for skin allergies before using it.
  • Use a flashlight, LED light, or apply reflective tape to costume so child is seen by others, including cars.
  • If wearing a mask, test for visibility out of the eye holes and proper breathability.
  • If costume requires a sword or weapon, do not swing it around and keep the pointed part away from body and others to avoid hurting anyone.

Halloween Safety Tips for Kids/Pets:

  1. Do not allow your children to go inside a home to accept candy, unless you accompany them.
  2. Inspect candy before eating. Check the contents of their bags/buckets for choking hazards and make sure candy is properly sealed (throw away anything that’s been opened/not packaged). Wait until getting home before eating candy so it can be properly inspected.
  3. Review labels for potentially harmful ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, or gluten, if your child has allergies.
  4. Supervise children when eating hard candy/peanuts since they could choke.
  5. Ensure children brush their teeth before bed to get rid of excess sugar eaten.
  6. Keep candy away from pets since it can be toxic to them.

Halloween Safety Tips for Adults:

  1. Lock your home doors, so valuables are safe while you’re out.
  2. Ensure your pets are secure in the house if passing out treats to kids.
  3. Stay in neighborhoods that are familiar to you.
  4. Go out with family/people you know. Keep children in sight and stay together. Designate a meeting spot in case you get split up.
  5. Start early and don’t stay out late. Observe the neighborhood time recommendations.
  6. Tell kids to walk and not run, and to cross at the corners after looking both ways.
  7. Plan your route. Stay on the same side of the street (instead of zigzagging back and forth).
  1. Only approach homes that have a porch light on (or are obviously accepting trick or treaters).
  2. Wear shoes that are easy to walk in (e.g., sneakers instead of boots with heels).
  3. If inclement weather is in the forecast, dress appropriately or consider staying home.
  4. Hand out individually wrapped candy/treats to prevent the spread of germs.

And, in case you want to skip the traditional ‘trick or treating” routine this year, and do something different, here are a few ideas:

  1. Host a Halloween party.  Invite some of your children’s neighborhood, school friends, or relatives to a party at your house.
  2. Movie night – Watch a scary movie together. Maybe someone in your neighborhood has a projector and would host an outdoor movie night?
  3. Halloween trunk or treat parade – Coordinate with your neighbors to have the kids dress up and have a parade.
  4. Spooky scavenger hunt – Hide Halloween-themed items in the yard for the family or come up with a neighborhood hunt to various “haunted” spots to get info that leads to a prize!

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