Every year, millions of children dress up on Halloween for a spooky and exciting night of trick-or-treating.
This is a holiday filled with creative costumes, fun decorations, and a seemingly never-ending stream of candy, but it is still important to prioritize safety.
Whether you’re planning to take your kids trick-or-treating, or you’re staying home to hand out candy, these safety tips will help ensure a fun and safe celebration.
Wear a Bright or Reflective Costume
Although Halloween costumes are often the star of the night, safety should be considered when choosing or designing them.
Dark costumes, while spooky and mysterious, can make it difficult for drivers and other pedestrians to see children, particularly in the dark of the night.
Encourage your children to wear bright costumes at night to make them more visible. If that doesn’t work with their chosen costume, adding reflective tape can also help them stand out in the dark.
Other helpful alternatives to a bright costume could include using glow sticks or carrying a flashlight. The more that your little one can stand out while trick-or-treating, the better.
Stay on the Sidewalk
While it may be tempting for trick-or-treaters to cut across lawns or the middle of the street to get to the next house more quickly, doing so can greatly jeopardize safety.
Whenever possible, it is important to walk on designated sidewalks.
If you’re in an area where no sidewalk is available, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road, or the shoulder, facing oncoming traffic.
Cross the Street Safely
When crossing the street while trick-or-treating, teach your kids to cross at designated crosswalks or intersections, and to stop and look both ways before crossing.
With so many children and families out and about on Halloween night, the risk of accidents is heightened, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic.
Olympia pedestrian accident lawyers suggest that in addition to only crossing at designated crosswalks, it’s equally important to always obey traffic signals when crossing, such as the “WALK” and “DON’T WALK” signals.
Inspect the Candy
Before your kids dive into their candy haul, be sure to inspect the candy to ensure everything looks safe to eat.
Generally speaking, you will want to throw away any candy that is unwrapped, homemade, or suspicious-looking.
You’ll also want to check for any candy that may pose a choking hazard for younger children. Ultimately, it is better to be cautious than to risk consuming a harmful treat.
Drive Slowly
If you’re out driving on Halloween night, it’s especially important to drive as defensively as possible.
Historically, Halloween is well-known as the deadliest day of the year for child pedestrians.
Be particularly careful in residential neighborhoods where children may dart into the street without looking, and make sure that you slow down and remove any distractions that may divert your attention from the road.
Light Up Your Home
For those opting to stay home and hand out candy this Halloween, it is important that you keep your home well-lit both inside and out.
Not only does this help trick-or-treaters avoid potential hazards and safely navigate to your home, but it also signals that you are home and ready to welcome little ones.
You can use porch lights, pathway lights, house lights, or even some spooky lanterns to help light the way.
Halloween is easily one of the top holidays for kids around North America. But, all the extra activity and excitement of the day means that it’s even more important to be safe.
Make sure you keep these trick-or-treating safety tips in mind during the big night to ensure a fun-filled day for you and your little ones!