A Fun Halloween Starts With Safety

Halloween is an exciting time, filled with neighborhood gatherings, creative costumes and trick-or-treating. It’s also a night when more families fill the streets than at any other time of year. So, to ensure this year’s memories are picture perfect, it’s best to keep safety top-of-mind, before, during and after the big night.

Start your Halloween off right by considering the following safety tips:

The best costumes aren’t just scary. They also keep you safe.

• Add reflective tape or striping to increase visibility if your family’s costumes and trick-or-treat bags aren’t already bright and reflective.
• Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping or entanglement.
• Ensure costume props are easy to carry and made of soft foam, without hard or sharp edges.
• Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks, which can limit or block eyesight. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• Buy only costumes, wigs and accessories labeled as flame resistant.

Keep your home an injury-free zone for family and visitors.

• Remove anything that could potentially be a tripping hazard for trick-or-treaters, including garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Avoid fire hazards, like real candles in Jack-O’-Lanterns.
• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Sweep wet leaves or debris from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they don’t jump on or bite visitors.

Stay alert and aware while trick-or-treating.

• Aim to take your children door-to-door before sunset because trick-or-treating is safest in daylight. If that’s not possible, bring a flashlight.
• Visit only well-lit areas and homes with the front light turned on.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway, facing traffic.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Review with children how to call 911 (or the local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
• Plan and review a safe route if older children are going alone. Remind them to never enter a home or car for a treat, and agree on a specific time to return home.
• Popular trick-or-treat hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. During this time, especially, drive with caution. And as always, never drink and drive.

Double-check all Halloween treats.

• Don’t trust treats that are expired, homemade or not completely wrapped. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Be mindful of potential choking hazards, especially with younger children. Kids under the age of four should never consume hard or sticky candy, popcorn or chewing gum.

Looking for a pediatrician? We can help! Call (713) 222-KIDS (5437).