Halloween Safety Tips for Families

by Emma Barron Lefkowitz

Halloween is just around the corner, and soon neighborhood streets will fill with little superheroes, cartoon characters, and favorite TV personalities heading out for trick-or-treating. With a little preparation, families can make sure the night is fun, festive, and safe.

Help Kids See and Be Seen

Use face makeup instead of masks that can block a child's vision
Give each child a flashlight
Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags
Choose light-colored clothing when possible
Make sure costumes are flame-resistant

Keep Children With an Adult

Young children should always be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult. Before heading out, make sure kids know where they're going and when they should return. Remind them to walk instead of run, visit only homes with porch lights on, accept treats at the door without ever going inside, and be careful around animals, especially dogs.

Practice Street Safety

Excited trick-or-treaters can forget about traffic, so remind children to stay alert:

Use sidewalks whenever possible, and if there isn't one, walk facing traffic along the road's edge
Look both ways before crossing
Cross only at corners, never between parked cars
Don't cut through yards or alleys

Drivers: slow down and stay extra alert on Halloween night. Children may suddenly enter the street or forget to look both ways.

Check the Treats

Before kids dig into their haul, an adult should check the candy. Throw away open or damaged packages, loose candy that looks questionable, anything that could be a choking hazard, and treats with unfamiliar brand names. When in doubt, throw it out.

Make Your Home Safe for Visitors

If you're welcoming trick-or-treaters, take a few minutes to make your property safer:

Turn on outdoor lights so visitors can see
Sweep leaves from sidewalks and steps
Clear porches and walkways of clutter
Remove toys, decorations, cords, and other objects that could cause someone to trip