As your little ghouls and goblins go out trick or treating on Halloween, keeping them safe is sure to be a concern on your mind. What can you do to make sure they stay safe? Here are a few tips for Halloween safety that can help.
Inspect Candy
Make sure that your child knows that you need to inspect their candy before they eat any of it. Look for signs that the wrapper has been disturbed in any way and throw away any candy that does not have a wrapper or looks suspicious. Don’t let your kids eat anything homemade. With older kids, teach them what to look for so that they don’t eat anything that could be harmful. Some parents even dump the candy their child gets trick or treating and give them things that they bought from the store.
Trick or Treat Events
If you are not comfortable with your child trick or treating door to door, look for trick or treat events in your area on Halloween night. Most major metro areas will have events like these to help keep kids safe. Look online or in your local newspaper to find events in your area. Some require a fee so be sure to check before you go.
Proper Road Safety
If your child does not know to look both ways before crossing the street, you need to go with them to ensure their safety. If you have younger children who do understand that they need to look for traffic, you may want to let them know what is the “safe” area that they can trick or treat in. This means that they do not cross roads or busy intersections but rather stay within local neighborhood streets. Having a “safe” zone for older kids can help too so they do not go into questionable neighborhoods. Another tip for Halloween safety is making sure your child has a flashlight and reflective tape on their clothing so that cars can see them. Make sure your kids know that they should not run across streets.
Costume Safety
The costume should be flame resistant. This won’t prevent it from lighting on fire but it should burn more slowly. Make sure your child knows not to get too near any open flame sources like lighted jack-o-lanterns. The costume should not be too big or baggy. Your child should be able to walk in it easily without tripping or falling. Shoes that fit the child should be worn. Shoes that are too big or too small can cause the child to trip. Nothing on the face should restrict the child’s vision. If a mask is pat of the costume, make sure the child can easily see through the eye holes.
Keeping in mind these tips for Halloween safety will help your child have both a fun and safe experience. Be sure to go over any important rules with your child before they go out trick or treating for the night. Even if you are going with them, telling them these rules will help make sure they stay safe and prepare them for future Halloweens.
US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Halloween Safety
Juliana Montgomery - Juliana Montgomery has over 15 years of experience writing.
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