Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is here again! Spooky goblins, eerie zombies, creepy witches...most of them under 5' tall! Halloween has always been my favorite holiday - even more than my birthday, and that's saying a lot. (Yes, I did just declare my birthday to be a national holiday.) This year, two of my older kids have crossed that line to "old enough that if they go trick or treating it's creepy", so I'm down to the two youngest. My 13-year-old, who knows that he's rapidly approaching that age himself, has a bloody clown mask that he's going to wear with an all-black outfit. My five-year-old, however, is still very much in the throes of the holiday; he'll be out there breathing the joy of running of from house to house, receiving candy and being dressed as a superhero. I'm smiling just thinking about it. 

Halloween night travels beg care, though. There are a lot of safety precautions to remember when you're out and about this evening. I've compiled a list that hopefully will be helpful to you when you're out there with your own little goblins. So with that, I bid you a spooky good evening! 

To ensure that trick-or-treaters, you and your house stay safe, remember to:

• Clean your yard and sidewalk of any obstacles.
• Keep your house well-lighted – both inside and out.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activities to the police.
• Drive slowly if you are out during the evening. 

Costume safety:

• Make sure your child's costume is made of a flame retardant material.
• Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls.
• Try make-up instead of masks – since masks can sometime obstruct vision.
• Look for brightly colored costumes or affix reflective strips to costumes and bags.
• Have your child carry a flashlight or glow sticks.
• If your child's costume involves any sort of fake weapon, make sure it's made out of flexible material such as cardboard or foam.  
• Make sure your child wears comfortable shoes.

Preparing your children for trick-or-treating:

• Make sure older children go out with friends/groups. 
• Make sure that younger children are accompanied by an adult.
• Set time limits and a route for children.
• Remind your child to stay away from vacant buildings, wooded lots and to avoid stranger's houses and vehicles.

After a successful night of trick-or-treating:

• Remind children not to eat any treats until they get home.  
• Parents should check all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Anything that is not wrapped by the factory or that is not sealed should be thrown out.

For more Halloween safety tips, go to the National Crime Prevention Council's website at www.ncpc.org.