What to Wear: Ghosts and Ghouls and Goblins, Oh My!

• Your child should wear costumes that are both bright and reflective. (Try adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.)
• Make sure shoes fit well.
• Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.
• Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks, which can limit or block eyesight.
• Look for and purchase only costumes, wigs, and accessories with labels clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• Do not buy costumes with small parts or strings that can choke or strangle smaller children.
• Attach emergency identification (name, address, phone number) inside Halloween costume or on a bracelet.
• Use flashlights with fresh batteries.
• Have older children and adult escorts wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.

Pumpkin Carving and Decorating

• Don’t allow small children to carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers and then an adult or older sibling can do the carving.
• Supervise children ages 5-10 and have them carve with pumpkin cutters equipped with safety bars.
• Use small votive candles for candle-lit pumpkins.
• Place lighted pumpkins on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects.
• Never leave lit pumpkins unattended.

Decorating Safety Tips For Your “Haunted House”    TOP

• Remove anything a child could trip over (garden hoses, toys, bikes, lawn decorations, etc.).
• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Sweep wet leaves away from sidewalks and steps.
• Consider fire safety when decorating. Don’t overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects.

The Tricks to Eating Healthy and Safely During Halloween    TOP

• Have you child eat a good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating. This will discourage the youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Instead of candy, consider giving away non-food treats (eg, pens, pencils, stickers, etc.).
• Once your children get home, sort and check treats carefully and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items.
• Try to portion treats for the days following Halloween.
• Encourage sharing, but make sure items that can cause choking (like hard candies) are given only to those of an appropriate age.

The Trick-or-Treater Checklist    TOP

Remind your children that it’s important to:

• Use a flashlight so they can see and be seen by others.
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Never enter a stranger’s home or car for a treat.
• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
• Always walk across a street—never run.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks.
• Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway, or alley.
• Follow the planned route and return home at the agreed upon time.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops doesn’t mean others will.
• Never eat or drink unwrapped food items that may be offered.
• Notify police or other law enforcement authorities if you see any suspicious or unlawful activities.