Halloween Safety

Costume Safety, children should:

• Wear bright, reflective and flame-retardant clothing; wear short clothing that prevents tripping.
• Wear sneakers or comfortable shoes.
• Use face paint and avoid masks, especially if the eye holes obstruct the child’s vision.
• Not wear floppy hats or wigs that slide over the eyes or long, baggy, or loose costumes or shoes.
• Avoid toy weapons – if desired, use costume knives and swords that are flexible, not rigid.
• Stay away from pets. The pet may not recognize the child and become frightened.

Pedestrian Safety, children should:

• Stay within familiar areas and surroundings. Parents should establish a route for children.
• Use flashlights and stay on sidewalks.
• Cross the street at corners / crosswalks and not between parked cars

• Motorists should drive slowly and watch carefully for children.

General Safety, children should:

• Never go into homes – stay on the porch or stoop when asking for treats.
• Avoid homes that don’t have their outside lights turned on.
• Never talk to strangers or get into strangers’ cars.
• Travel in small groups and be accompanied by parents or an adult chaperone.
• Know their home phone number and their parents’ cell phone numbers.
• Have their names and addresses attached to their costumes.
• Bring home treats before eating them. Parents should inspect all candy and other treats before they are eaten. Discard all unwrapped or loosely wrapped candy or fruit.  If in doubt, throw it out.

• Parents and children should carve pumpkins on a stable, flat surface with good lighting. Small children should never carve pumpkins. Instead, they can help by drawing faces with markers, while a parent does the cutting. Older children carving pumpkins should always be supervised.
•  Adults should keep porch lights on and their driveways illuminated.
•  Homeowners should ensure that their walkways are clear of debris trip hazards.

Photo courtesy of Flickr, Photographer, Phil Scoville.