Halloween Safety: Help Every Child Get Home Safely

With Halloween arriving this Saturday, families are preparing for trick or treating, fall festivals, trunk or treats and Halloween parties. Before heading out, a few simple precautions can help keep children safe.

One excited child, one dark costume and one driver who doesn’t see them can turn a celebration into a tragedy. Parents, caregivers, event organizers and drivers all have a role in helping prevent injuries.

Help Children See and Be Seen

Add reflective tape to costumes and candy bags, and give children flashlights or glow sticks. A costume that stands out indoors may be difficult for drivers to see after dark.

Choose familiar, well-lit walking routes. Remind children that being able to see a vehicle does not mean its driver can see them.

Check Costumes Before Leaving

Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping, and shoes should fit securely. Choose flame-resistant costumes and avoid sharp or long props that could cause injuries during a fall.

Face paint can be a better option than masks that block vision. Test makeup on a small patch of skin beforehand, and make sure hats and accessories do not slip over children’s eyes.

Take Extra Care Crossing Streets

Use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. Never cross between parked cars, where children can be hidden from approaching drivers.

Look both ways, watch for turning vehicles and wait for drivers to stop before stepping into the road, even at a crosswalk. Keep phones put away while walking.

If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from moving vehicles as possible.

Stay Together and Plan Ahead

Children under 12 should have an adult accompany them. Older children who are ready to go without an adult should travel in groups, follow an agreed route and have a set return time. A child’s judgment and comfort level matter alongside their age.

Remind children never to enter a home or vehicle to receive candy. Visit homes with outdoor lights on and keep the group together throughout the evening.

Watch for Traffic at Trunk or Treats

Decorated vehicles may be stationary, but cars elsewhere in the parking lot may still be arriving, backing up or leaving.

Hold young children’s hands, use designated walking areas and keep children from running between vehicles. Never assume a driver sees your child.

Drivers should follow event staff directions and check carefully around their vehicles before moving.

Check Treats Before Children Eat

Give children a meal or snack before leaving so they are less tempted to eat candy before an adult checks it.

At home, discard treats that are unwrapped, damaged or suspicious. Avoid homemade treats from people you do not know.

Read ingredient labels for allergies, and remove choking hazards such as hard candy, gum, whole nuts and small toys for young children.

Make Your Home Safe for Visitors

Turn on outdoor lights and clear steps, sidewalks and paths of tripping hazards, including cords, hoses, toys and wet leaves.

Secure pets so they cannot jump on or frighten visitors. Use battery-operated lights in pumpkins, and keep costumes and decorations away from candles and open flames.

Drivers, Expect the Unexpected

Slow down around neighborhoods, parking lots and event entrances. Put the phone away and watch closely near crosswalks, driveways and parked cars.

Check carefully before turning or backing up, and never drive impaired.

Children are excited about costumes and candy. They may not be thinking about the car coming around the corner. The adults around them need to be.

Pass these reminders along to parents, grandparents, caregivers and drivers. A brief conversation before the celebrations begin could help another child get home safely.