In a few weeks, the streets will be littered with witches, ghosts, pirates, princesses and superheroes. As people go trick-or-treating this Halloween, keep these safety reminders in check so that you can enjoy the craziest holiday of the year:
Halloween Safety Guide For Kids And Parents
- Plan routes ahead of time and check the sex offenders' registry when you're plotting where to go.
- Make sure that the kids' costumes are fire-retardant, well-fitted, comfortable and not a tripping hazard.
- If the kids are wearing masks, attest that they can properly see and breathe with it. If the kids are going to put on makeup, check for the ingredients, as these should be free of toxic chemicals.
- If the kids have swords and other accessories, these shouldn't be made of sharp materials.
- If the kids are wearing dark costumes, have them wear something bright or glowing, too.
- When going out on the streets, kids below the age of 12 should always be accompanied by adults. However, keep watch over the teenage kids as well. "You would think that most of those fatalities are with the younger kids, the five to eight (age) range, but surprisingly the fatality spike is actually with the 12-15 year olds," said Dave Phillips of the State Farm Insurance, via Pittsburgh NPR News Station. "Part of the reason for that may be is that's usually the age when they'll trick-or-treat unsupervised."
- Parents should know who their children are going with and always remind everyone to trick-or-treat in groups.
- Instruct the children to only follow the planned route, walk in familiar areas and take extra care while crossing the streets at night. "Parents, again, need to talk to their kids, remind them how to safely cross the street. We're looking left, right, left again, using sidewalks and pathways whenever possible," said Safe Kids Missoula Coordinator Heidi Morris via NBC Montana.
- Instruct the children to visit houses that are well-lit.
- Have the kids carry flashlights with full battery sources.
- Have the kids memorize home address and important contact numbers in case of emergencies, or better yet, pin these details in the kids' costumes.
- Establish a time for going home.
- Make sure that the kids don't eat their treats until they are home, or until the parents have reviewed what they have received.
Halloween Safety Guide For Families With Pets
- If you're going to have your pets wear Halloween costumes, ascertain that they fit properly and do not disrupt eyesight, hearing, breathing and walking.
- Do away with elaborate decorative items in the costume that could end up being eaten by pets and hurt their intestines.
- Do your trick-or-treating while there's still some light outside. When it's darker, you might not be able to see broken glasses and candy wrappers on the ground, which your pets might try to eat.
- At home, keep your pets safe and secure as trick-or-treaters or party guests in costumes could frighten the animals.
- Watch out for pranksters that could play tricks on your pets (especially black cats).
- Keep Halloween treats out of pets' reach as some are very toxic.
- Make sure that decorations are also not within your pet's reach to avoid chewing or chocking.
- Your pets should wear ID tags or collars, just in case they escape. "The things that make Halloween a treat for people - noises, smells, trick-or-treaters at the door and people in costumes - can overwhelm many pets," said KC Thiesen of the Humane Society of the United States via Care 2.
Halloween Safety Tips For The Home
- Never leave your house unattended.
- If you're home alone and are not planning on giving out treats, don't turn off the porch lights as it would be better to see who might come by to ring your doorbell.
- Make sure that the front of your home obstacle-free, so that visitors won't trip.
- Be wary of where you put decorations like candles to avoid catching someone's costume on fire.
