Halloween Child Safety Tips

Halloween can be loads of fun, but it can also be full of injuries and health hazards! An estimated 41.1 million children between ages 5-14 go trick-or-treating each year, according to the U.S. Census. That means plenty of parents are biting their fingernails on the spooky night, in hopes that their children keep out of harm’s way.  

Let’s take a look at how to prepare your children for a fun, safe night. It’ll put your mind at ease, too!

Careful Costuming for Halloween

Costumes are a big part of the excitement of Halloween. Kids are anxious to transform – into witches, superheroes or their favorite character whose theme song always gets stuck in your head (Baby Shark, anyone?). No matter what the costume, it’s important to keep safety top of mind. Here are some surefire ways to keep things safe:

• Wear bright colors and reflective fabric to help your child to stand out in a crowd.
• Choose a costume that is functional and won’t present obstacles, like long fabric they can trip over or a mask that restricts their sight or breathing.
• Be on the lookout for any elements of your child’s costume that may pose additional dangers, like a fake sword that has sharp edges.
• Choose an option that is weather-appropriate. Flu season is beginning, after all. 

Plan a Route… and Stick to It 

Having a plan of action can take the guesswork out of making sure you end up in a safe, walkable neighborhood. Try these preliminary planning strategies: 

• Before the day comes, establish which neighborhoods and streets are safe and acceptable to visit for trick-or-treating. This should be done whether or not you accompany your child.
• Review safety procedures in case there is an emergency. If they get lost or separated from the group, your child should know how to call 9-1-1 and explain their situation.
• A responsible adult should always accompany young kids.
• Whether or not they are escorted, all children should have a flashlight with working batteries in case they get lost. 

Safe Walking

Halloween night can prove to be a bit chaotic. Teach your children to be smart about where they walk while trick-or-treating – and take the same advice for yourself!

• Stay in groups and stick together. There is power in numbers, as they say.
• Don’t deviate from areas that are well lit. You’re less likely to get lost and more likely to stay on the agreed-upon path if you can see where you’re going.
• Remain on the sidewalk, not the street. According to the Safe Kids organization, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
• Look both ways when crossing the street. It may be easy to forget that cars will still on the road.  Motorists may be unusually distracted as well.

Returning Home

Once your child is home, there are just a few more things to keep in mind.

• Take any face makeup off fully to prevent pores from getting clogged and skin from getting irritated.
• Don’t eat any unwrapped candy. It’s best to make sure any food is packaged and properly sealed by the manufacturer.  Watch for any signs of tampering. Children shouldn’t eat any treats until they get home and the candy is inspected by you first.
• Be aware of the ingredients in popular candies if you child is one of the one-in-thirteen children in the U.S. who have food allergies.
• Don’t eat all the candy in one night! A tummy ache can definitely ruin a fun night!