Before leaving for trick-or-treating or a Halloween party, take time to review your expectations and safety guidelines with your child. It may even be a good idea to practice the safety guidelines beforehand.
Costume Safety checklist:
- Make sure the costume has no parts of it dragging on the ground.
- Wear properly fitted shoes even if it doesn’t match the costume.
- Wear bright colors and/ or add reflective tape to costumes.
- Make sure masks and other props do not inhibit vision.
- Carry a flash light or glow sticks.
- Make sure all weapon props are dull, soft, flexible, and look fake.
- Costumes should be flame retardant treated.
- Halloween contact lenses should only come from an eye care professional.
- Carry a cell-phone.
- The CDC recommends masks for all trick-or-treaters.
Trick or Treating and Candy Safety Tips:
- Stay away from pets and animals that you don’t know. (Don’t pet animals that you don’t know.)
- Only approach houses that are lit
- Avoid cutting through yards and driveways.
- Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
- Obey all traffic signals and signs.
- Stay on sidewalk when possible (walk on left side of road facing traffic when there is no side walk).
- Don’t enter an unfamiliar home.
- Trick or Treat in groups of three or more. Children under the age of 12 should trick or treat with a trusted adult and small children should be accompanied all the way to the door.
- Examine all the candy before eating it. Avoid unwrapped items and home-baked treats. Be alert to allergies and choking hazards.
- Take precautions to avoid the spread of Covid-19 and other illnesses.