Halloween Safety

There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening.

Pedestrians

  • Children should trick or treat in groups and be accompanied by an adult. They should never enter a home or an apartment unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Only visit people you know in familiar areas.
  • Carry a flashlight to see and be seen. Use reflective tape on costumes, bags and sacks.
  • Stay on the sidewalk at all times and to cross streets at crosswalks and intersections. Do not cut across yards. Lawn ornaments and clotheslines can become "hidden hazards" in the dark.

Costumes

  • When purchasing a costume, check to be sure it's flame resistant.
  • Make sure you costume lets you see and hear perfectly. You need to be able to watch and listen for cars. Make sure your costume fits. It's easy to trip on costumes that are too long or shoes that are too big.
  • Wear light or brightly colored clothing. Put glow-in-the-dark or reflective patches or strips on your costumes so drivers can see them better.

Treats

  • Teach children to not eat treats until an adult checks them for tampering.
  • Check any toys or novelty items for choking hazards to children younger than 3.

Motorists

  • Obey all traffic signs and signals. Slow down in residential neighborhoods.
  • Watch for children walking in streets, medians and on curbs. Enter and exit driveways and streets slowly and carefully.
  • Teach children to exit and enter cars on the curb side, away from traffic.

Decorations

  • Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles inside jack-o-lanterns instead of open flame candles.
  • Keep candles, pumpkins with candles, matches and lighters out of children's reach.
  • If you do use candles in your jack-o-lanterns, never leave them unattended.
  • Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
  • Indoors, keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could be ignited.
  • Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
  • Check each set of lights - new or old - for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets. Don't overload extension cords.