13 Halloween Safety Tips

Following a few easy precautions can help everyone have a much more enjoyable Halloween!

Costumes:

1. Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween. 
2. Decorate cosutmes with reflective tape or have your children wear glow bracelets and necklaces for greater visibility during dusk and darkness. Also make sure costumes are light enough in color to be clearly visible for drivers. 
3. Consider using face paints rather than masks so that vision is not impaired. 
4. Costumes, including masks, beards and wigs should be flame resistant; just look for the label inside. With candles being part of Halloween decorations, avoid costumes that are big and baggy and have billowing sleeves or skirts. 
5. Costume accessories (swords, knives, etc.) should be made of soft, flexible material.

Trick-or-Treating:

6. Plan a route in advance and have adult supervision. 
7. Use sidewalks and try not to walk in the street except at appropriate places. 
8. Don't cross the street between parked cars. 
9. Carry flashlights. 
10. Place reflective tape on Halloween bags or sacks. 
11. Visit homes that have well lit entryways, and do not go to homes with porch lights off. 
12. Don't run between houses, which can have unseen landscaping hazards, sprinklers and furniture that can present dangers after dark. 
13. Inspect all treats before eating. Throw away any package if it is opened.

Also, please consider limiting your child's consumption of candy - which can cause tummy aches, cavities and unwanted behaviors. Parents (and dentists) can offer to buy back half (or more) of the candy from Halloween, and there are even programs to send candy to troops overseas.