5 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips to Keep in Mind on Halloween

In 2013, an estimated 41.2 million children between the ages of 5-14 were anticipated to go trick-or-treating. Of course many other children older and younger also go door to door asking for delicious treats. This means there are a lot of people walking around and crossing streets.

As your children, nieces, or nephews gleefully shout “Trick or Treat,” this year, keep in mind Halloween can be a tricky night to be out and about. Remember a few of these trick-or-treat safety tips to make your fun-filled night one to remember.

1. Make costumes stand out

Make the people you’re walking with visible by using brightly colored clothing. If it isn’t an option due to what your youngin’ decides to dress up as, then make sure to use reflective tape on both the costume and the candy bag your child is wearing. Taking this precaution will decrease the risk of a driver not seeing your child.

2. Take make-up safety precautions

Face paint not only helps add the flawless touch your child needs to finish off their costume, it can also be safer than using a mask. Masks can make it difficult to see and possibly breathe. When using face paint as an alternative you want to make sure it doesn’t cause other problems.

When applying makeup be sure to follow all the directions and don’t use any makeup not intended for use on your child’s face or skin. Even those intended for use on the skin can irritate. To avoid irritation, try putting a small dab on a section of your child’s skin. If it doesn’t cause irritation then you’re in the clear to finish applying the make-up to the remainder of their skin.

3. Pre-plan a route

Making a plan ahead of time regarding the route you and your loved ones will take will do 2 main things: increase your safety, and help make your trick-or-treat night go much smoother.

Knowing your route ahead of time will ensure you don’t get lost in an area you don’t know and allow you to mark safety zones to meet at if you and your loved ones get separated.

In addition to safety, planning the route in advance will give you time to factor in bathroom stops, how many houses your kid will last before getting tired, and in general how long your night might last.

4. Only knock on doors that are well lit

If the front porch light or the outside garage lights are off it means the residents are not handing out candy. Knowing this ahead of time ensures the unlit houses are not bothered and helps keep your loved ones near well-lit areas.

5. Check treats before eating

Tampering with Halloween candy is a rare occurrence, but you should still warn your children not to eat any of the treats they receive while out and about. If you think they will be tempted, feed them a quick meal before they leave.

When they return, dump the treats out on a table near a bright light and examine the candy. Don’t eat any homemade food, treats not in the original wrapper, or any candy that appears to have been tampered with such as torn wrappers, or small pinholes. When in doubt, throw it out.

If you want you can take your child’s treats to a local hospital where they will run it through an x-ray. Most hospitals will do this on Halloween night and/or the morning after for free.

Safety first

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for kids. Safety is definitely not going to be at the forefront of their minds as they masquerade as their favorite character or creature, so it’s up to the adults to take the necessary precautions. Safety should always be a priority, but especially on a night with increased risks.

How are you making your trick-or-treating night safer?