Halloween Safety Tips

October 2008

Halloween is a time for fun – costumes, candy, and celebrating with friends and family. To make sure that your Halloween stays injury-free, you can follow some simple steps to keep trick-or-treaters safe.

Costumes

• Make sure costumes are made out of flame-resistant material.
• Make sure that costumes are bright enough to be seen by motorists.
• Costumes should fit well to prevent tripping and falling.
• Swords, knives, and other accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Trick-or-Treating

• All children should be supervised by an adult when trick-or-treating.
• Only visit homes that have lights that are on.
• Carry a flashlight and a brightly colored treat bag.
• Watch out for animals – even the neighbor's dog can bite if surprised by a costume.
• Use sidewalks whenever possible.
• Obey all traffic signals.
• Make sure children know to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Candy

• Tell children not to eat any treats until they have been inspected by an adult at home.
• Serve dinner before children leave so they aren’t tempted to eat their candy before they get home.
• Discard candy with open or loose wrappers.
• If a treat appears to be tampered with, call the police.
• Check with your local hospital to see if they offer candy inspection services.

Homeowners

• Make sure steps and yards are cleared of tripping hazards like electrical cords.
• Properly light pathways.
• Keep all pets away from trick-or-treaters.
• Use flashlights instead of candles in pumpkins to reduce the risk of fire.
• Don't give out homemade treats unless you know the children and they know it's from you.

Stay safe and have fun this Halloween!