Follow the safety tips below to have a fun and safe Halloween.
Trick or treat with an adult
Trick or treat is safer and more fun in groups. Since adult supervision is essential, get together with other adults and make an evening of it.
- Children under the age of 12 should not trick or treat without adult supervision.
- If older children are going alone, plan an acceptable route and agree on a specific return time.
- Only go to homes with porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
Walk safely
Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right and left again when crossing.
- Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible. - Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never run into street or cross between parked cars.
Keep costumes safe
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup when possible instead of masks, which can obstruct vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it fits correctly to prevent trips and falls.
- Costumes, wigs and accessories should contain a label indicating they are flame resistant.
- Make sure accessories such as swords, canes, or sticks are not sharp or too long.
Drive extra safely
- Slow down and be alert in residential neighborhoods. Children may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Eliminate any distractions inside car so you can concentrate on driving safely.
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Be alert for kids during those hours.
Carefully check candy
- Check candy for choking hazards like gum and hard candies.
- Throw away any candy that is not sealed with a wrapper.
- Avoid homemade treats received from strangers.
Take precautions against vandalism
- If you’re going away during Halloween, make it seem like you’re still home by putting lights on timers and leaving your curtains in normal positions with valuables out of sight.
- Install lighting (activated by a photocell or movement) to illuminate area around your home.
- Trim shrubs and large trees before Halloween so trespassers have fewer hiding spots.
- To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard any tripping hazards such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
- Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
- Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
- Restrain pets so they do not jump on or bite a trick-or-treater or run away.
- Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
Protect your car from vandalism
- Park in garage if possible. If you can’t, you may want to consider investing in outdoor lighting.
- Make sure car is locked.
- Consider a car alarm.
- Hide your valuables.
https://blog.nationwide.com/halloween-safety-tips/