Top ten Halloween safety tips for families

October 28, 8:14 PMChild Safety ExaminerSusan Carney

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Halloween can be one of the most fun and exciting holidays for little ones. They get the chance to dress up, pretend to be someone (or something!) else, and hoard sweets. What could be better?
Unfortunately, Halloween festivities can pose some risks if adults aren’t careful. Keep these ten reminders in mind to make sure that your kids have a fun-filled and safe Halloween.

1. Make sure your child’s costume is flame-resistant, comfortable and manageable. Avoid top heavy costumes that could topple him, or flowing, trailing costumes that could get wound around her feet and cause her to fall.  Avoid using anything around the neck that may pose a strangulation hazard, and skip the high heeled shoes.
2. For the littlest trick-or-treaters, you may want to avoid masks all together. They may be frightening to the wearer, impede vision, make it difficult to breathe, and increase the risk that your child may fall. Choose a fun hat or headpiece, or a dab of allergen-free makeup instead.
3. Remind kids not to eat or drink anything that is given to them until a parent looks it over first. This includes not only Halloween treats, but any potions or weird substances that might be part of a haunted house or Halloween decorations. Make sure kids know that even though things may look like food, they might not be.
4. Provide your child with the proper level of supervision for his age and comfort level. Make sure that your child’s judgment, maturity, and safety awareness are well-developed before allowing him to trick-or-treat without a parent.
5. Young children may feel safer trick-or-treating before it gets too dark. The intensity of the evening, coupled with the “scary” themes, may be overwhelming for some little ones.
6. Go only to homes you know. Make sure houses are well-lit, indicating that they are welcoming trick-or-treaters as well as providing a safe walking space for your little ones.
7. Avoid using real candles in pumpkins on doorsteps, and remove obstacles kids could trip over from lawns and walking paths.  Keep an eye out for the same at homes you visit.
8. If your kids will be trick-or-treating in the dark, make sure they have flashlights and remind them to stay on the alert for traffic. Consider attaching reflective tape to their costumes so they are more easily seen by motorists.
9. When checking kids’ loot, be on the lookout for food your child may be allergic to, as well as any recalled foods or items that may pose a choking hazard for kids under 5. 
10. Be super careful with knives when carving pumpkins.