List of Halloween Safety Tips

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Keep yourself and your family safe with this list of Halloween Safety Tips

Each year on Halloween, families nationwide gather for parties and open their homes to excited trick-or-treaters. In addition, others head out with their groups of enthusiastic candy collectors. Before you hit the streets, review this common sense list of safety tips to ensure this Halloween will be safe for everyone.

Ensure Candy and Other Items are Safe

One of the parents’ biggest fears about their children on this holiday is the possibility of poison or tainted candy. Although it is a highly uncommon occurrence, it has happened in the past, and the possibility of it happening again keeps everyone on edge. Keep your boys and girls out of harm’s way by following these guidelines:

  • Instruct children not to eat anything they receive until they return home and you have checked every piece of candy.
  • Make sure youngsters don’t drink any beverages offered to them while trick-or-treating. Emphasize this importance without frightening the children and ruining their enjoyment of trick-or-treating.
  • Examine candy and treats in a room with bright lights when trick-or-treaters arrive home. Look for any signs of tampering.
  • Check the outside of the candy wrappers and the bottom of the bag/bucket/pouch for any powder, residue, or liquid.
  • Do not eat candy that has been unwrapped, opened, or looks unusual.

Keeping Safe in the Street on Halloween

Participate in Halloween with your child. Personally supervise them always or ensure they go trick-or-treating with a responsible and trusted adult. Follow these simple tips to keep them out of danger on the streets:

  • Make sure your children are visible at all times. Keeping your eye on them will help keep them safe.
  • Don’t let your child enter anyone’s home for any reason without you by their side.
  • Encourage kids to wear brightly-colored costumes, carry brightly-colored candy bags, and place reflective strips on their costumes. In addition, have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. These actions will help drivers see children better in the dark.
  • Only go to houses that have the exterior lights turned on. Homeowners: remember to turn your lights off if you are not participating or when you run out of candy. Or, stand outside and let the trick-or-treaters know you ran out of candy.
  • Try to stay on the sidewalks for safety at all times. Never walk in the road.
  • Teach children to cross the street at corners, look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as they cross the street.
  • If driving in an automobile, drive slowly and always stay alert in the neighborhood. Understandably, children are excited about Halloween and may dart into the street without notice.
  • If possible, travel in groups. There is more safety in numbers.
  • Encourage your children to use driveways and sidewalks versus running across someone’s lawn. This is both a common courtesy and a safety measure. Seeing hoses and other objects in the dark is challenging, which may cause a sprained ankle, a cut, or worse.

Safety Tips for the Home

  • Make sure your decorations are safe. Create a path that is well-lit to your house. A dark and scary Halloween night may be what you are trying to achieve, but remember to ensure adequate and proper lighting for your costumed visitors. Check the lighting for your front entryway or porch and replace any damaged or non-working bulbs. If accessible areas such as the front yard and walkway aren’t well-lit, add walkway lights or flashlights.
  • Remove or highlight potential tripping or falling hazards. Clear any obstacles away from your lawn, steps, and porch. Ensure that tree roots, branches, and other hazards are marked and temporary extension cords are secured.
  • Be sure that the extension cords you use outdoors are rated for outdoor use. Also, make sure they are correctly connected and secure.
  • Avoid open flames. Pumpkins with burning candles require constant supervision and can pose a risk to trailing parts of flammable costumes. Choose battery-operated candles or LED lights instead.
  • Don’t overload electrical extension cords. If you have a lot of interior decorations that require power, ensure you’re not putting too much strain on your extension cords. Your cord should be the correct amperage for what you’re plugging in. Check the cord periodically: If any part of the cord, the plug, or the socket is hot, discontinue use to prevent overheating.

Eat Halloween Candy Responsibly

In addition to all the home and personal safety measures, your health is essential. Leftover candy makes its way back to our pantry and into the break room at work. Having easy access means we’re all bound to eat more than usual. Be conscious of they types of food you are eating and how much you consume. Caring about your safety also means watching what you eat.

Pay extra attention to how much candy and other sweets your children consume. Excess sugar can cause bursts of energy but eventually lead to upset stomachs.

Other Holiday Rituals

  • Remember, only adults should carve pumpkins. Adults should supervise children closely around carving tools.
  • Use a tea light or glow stick in the pumpkin instead of a candle. This will help avoid burns and house fires.
  • Only adults should handle matches or other lighting devices.

Don’t forget about your pets.

Remember to keep chocolate candy, raisins, and macadamia nuts away from pets. These items are toxic to dogs and cats. Every year, veterinarians receive thousands of calls regarding sick pets entering the Halloween candy stash.

In addition, Halloween can be a very stressful time for animals. Unfamiliar people are coming and going, ringing the doorbell, and sometimes entering your home. As a result, pets experience a high level of anxiety when this happens. They may view the trick-or-treaters as a threat. And the sound of firecrackers, fireworks, screaming, and yelling will add to the anxiety.

Questions and Comments

Please comment below if you have questions about this Halloween safety tips list. Don’t forget to have fun, don’t overeat candy, and keep this Halloween safe!

Read more tips for keeping safe during the holidays.

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