From a parent’s perspective Halloween can be scary for all the wrong reasons.
That’s because for all the ghostly fun, the holiday involves a lot of potentially dangerous activities. (Think carving with sharp knives and crossing streets in the dark in search of candy.)
“Exercising some caution and using safety tips will let kids enjoy the holiday while making sure parents have some peace of mind about potential dangers,” says Dr. Meghan Markovich, a pediatrician with St. Elizabeth Physicians.
To maximize the fun and minimize the risks, we collected Halloween safety tips from some of our favorite sources. Here are our 10 favorite Halloween safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Fire Protection Association:
- Carve safely. Leave the carving to adults and let young children decorate pumpkins with markers, glitter glue or paint.
- Avoid fires. Illuminate your jack-o’-lantern with a flashlight, flameless candle or glow sticks. If you do use a candle, never leave your pumpkin unattended.
- Choose costumes with safety in mind. To promote visibility select bright costumes or attach reflective tape to costumes and treat bags. Avoid, loose flowy, flammable fabrics and make sure your child knows to “stop, drop and roll” in the event that their clothing should catch fire.
- Avoid tripping hazards. Skinned knees, twisted ankles and spilled candy can all put a damper on Halloween fun. Avoid long costumes, oversized clown shoes and high heels.
- Opt for non-toxic face paint. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Watch the accessories. As much as your little pirate may want to carry a sword or your fairy wield a wand, make sure his or her accessories are safe. Arm them with a flashlight or soft foam accessory instead.
- Trick-or-treat together. Stay with young children and pin a note with your child’s name, address and phone number inside his pocket in case you get separated. If your older child is trick-or-treating without you, make sure she is with a group and agree on ground rules ““ such as the route, curfew and street crossing rules, before she goes out. Make it clear that she should stick to well-lighted streets and never go inside a home or near a car for a treat and have her carry a cellphone and a flashlight.
- Plan a party. If you are concerned about traffic and safety considerations, avoid the night time running around and plan a party instead.
- Inspect treats. Discard anything that’s not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable and be sure to remove choking hazards such as gym and hard candies from young children’s stash.
- Don’t forget Fido. Ringing doorbells and masked goblins can frighten your dog and leashes can trip trick-or-treaters in the dark. Halloween isn’t really a pet-friendly holiday. Whether you are home handing out candy or trick-or-treating the neighborhood, consider leaving your pet at home in a bedroom or other safe spot where he’s not in danger of biting anyone or bolting out the door.
