Halloween Safety

Halloween is a fun time to dress up, be with friends and enjoy a little treat. As your family prepares for a night of costumes and candy, keep these safety tips in mind. If your child has asthma or respiratory problems, check out our Halloween asthma tips.

Ten Halloween Safety Tips

1. Children should not trick-or-treat alone. Groups of children with adult supervision is recommended.
2. Older children should talk to their parents about a specific route and time they will return. Make sure they have a cell phone to contact in case of emergency.
3. Bring flashlights, glow sticks or reflective tape to ensure visibility by oncoming traffic.
4. Masks can cover airways and block eyesight. Consider using non-toxic makeup instead.
5. Check costume labels to ensure they are flame resistant.
6. Accessories like swords can be a hazard. Find a version made of soft material such as foam.
7. Teach your children that they should never enter a home or car for a treat.
8. Stay on well-lit streets and walk on the sidewalk. Use a crosswalk when available and never cross the street between cars.
9. Decorative contacts can cause eye injury; use with caution or with a doctor’s prescription.
   Instead of a candle, use a glow stick or a flashlight to light your Jack-o-lantern. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.  Young children can help with pumpkin decorating but should not use sharp objects; adults should handle the carving.
10. Store the Halloween loot where you can ration the amount of candy your child consumes. Be sure to look over the candy for any suspicious items.