Haunted houses, hayrides, pumpkin patches, it’s that time of the year again! Halloween is the only day of the year when parents allow their kids to accept candies from strangers and let their children wear the goofiest costumes publicly.
Everyone anticipates spending time with their families, carving pumpkins, coming up with costume ideas, and setting up decorations like ghastly skeletons and enormous fuzzy spiders. However, the fun and excitement shouldn’t distract you from keeping yourself and your children safe on Halloween.
For children, particularly, Halloween can be scary. There are several risks; wandering around in the dark and accepting candies from strangers can leave them in danger.
On Halloween night, children are four times more likely to be involved in a deadly car accident than on any other night. However, these accidents are preventable with a little conscious effort. Here are some Halloween safety tips that can keep you safe.
Always be with young children while they wander around the neighborhood. Plan and review the route you’re okay with if your older kids travel alone.
Even if kids are responsible enough to venture out independently, they should go in a group or with a responsible adult. Keep an eye out for your friends, family, and others, whether outside or at a party. Know where your pals are and try not to leave them unattended.
Any children going out should be in a group with at least three other people. Although 4 or 5 is probably the ideal number, the more, the merrier. Youngsters should be taught to approach a reliable adult for assistance if they become separated from their group.
Ensure your costumes are not too long to avoid tripping, entanglement, and flame contact. Also, make sure your shoes fit comfortably, and the costume you choose fits properly to avoid falls and trips. Additionally, hats should fit your head size well to prevent slipping over the eyes and obstructing vision.
Check the labels on the costumes for “flame resistant.” Wigs and accessories should also be made of fire-resistant material. You can add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags to improve visibility in the dark.
Halloween masks may impair vision and make it difficult to see; therefore, it’s preferable to use nontoxic cosmetics instead of masks. Always test a small area of your skin for sensitivity before using any makeup products. A possible allergy is indicated if a rash, redness, swelling, or other symptoms of irritation appear where the cosmetics are applied. Remove makeup as soon as you experience any redness or itching.
Additionally, make sure you are not utilizing any cosmetics that have expired. Remove all makeup before bed to avoid irritated skin and eyes.
Utilize crosswalks and traffic signals to cross the street at intersections. When crossing, look left, right, and left again, and keep looking as you cross. Keep an eye out for turning or reversing vehicles. Teach kids never to cross between parked cars or run out into the street.
Make sure your children know they should only cross the street at a corner, a crosswalk, or a pedestrian crossing if they must. Before crossing, kids must look in all directions and ensure no cars are approaching. You must double-check each direction before making a turn or proceeding straight through an intersection.
While on the trick-or-treat trail, keep an eye on what your kids are putting in their mouths at all times. Tell them to not eat anything before you sort and inspect all treats. Even though tampering is uncommon, the risks can not fully be eliminated. Examine commercially packaged snacks for indications of manipulation, such as a weird appearance or discoloration, minute pinholes, or tears in the packaging. Anything that seems suspicious should be discarded.
An adult should carefully inspect all treats and discard any rotten, unwrapped, or seem off. Remember that toddlers shouldn’t consume hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, pumpkin seeds, or anything containing whole nuts. Choking hazards include candy wrappers, stickers, tiny toys, and temporary tattoos. Babies and toddlers will eat just about everything, as many parents are aware, so it’s better to keep things that may cause a choking hazard away.
Always stay on the paths or sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, move as far as possible to the left of the traffic flow. Try to avoid crossing roadways and go for alternative routes when children are walking along. Teach your kids to stay on the sidewalk as much as they can for their safety.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only visit well-lit houses of acquaintances. You can’t see your kids very well when they approach the door in the dark.
Remove any fire or tripping hazards from all walkways. Keep walkways well-lit, and turn on your porch light to let others know that your place is safe to trick-or-treat. You can add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags to improve visibility in the dark.
When trick-or-treating, make sure that kids are more visible when crossing the street by using flashlights, glow sticks, reflective tape, or vests. Children should carry glow sticks, so they are more noticeable in costumes. You should take particular note of this if your children plan on trick-or-treating after dusk.
We hope you will remember the aforementioned safety advice as Halloween approaches to ensure an enjoyable and secure evening.
Just in case someone tries to ruin your Halloween despite all your precautions, carry a personal safety device, such as Silent Beacon’s panic button, to call for assistance in an emergency. Your emergency contacts will be informed and given your current GPS location when you press the panic button — all this in milliseconds. You can even dial 911 with a simple button press in dire circumstances.
Children enjoy Halloween, but watching out for their safety is crucial. You can help ensure that your child enjoys a fun and safe Halloween by adhering to these safety recommendations.
