Halloween 2009 Trick or Treating Safety Tips

Halloween is a rite of passage for all children in North America. The following Halloween safety tips will help ensure that your trick or treater makes it home safely, with a ghoulish smile and a sweet tooth. Take the advice of these trick r' treating Halloween tips for a fun and safe Halloween.

Take a Parent or Go in a Group
The best scenario is to take your parent or parents along as a chaperone. However, if you are old enough to be embarrassed by your parents, make sure you go with a friend or in a group where somebody is old enough to be responsible. It all depends on the maturity of the child, but anywhere from age 11-13 is a responsible enough age to lead a group of Halloweeners.

Trick Or Treat in the Daytime
Trick or treating in the daytime has many benefits. Trick or treaters are safer in the daytime because drivers can see them. Trick or treaters won't get much action is residences at this time, but retail stores are a hidden treasure trove. If your town has a business district, go in a large group of trick r' treaters and pound the pavement. Most stores will give out candy, and in some cases, they'll dole out toys or free ice cream cones. If you're a trick or treater looking to maximize your candy input on Halloween, you need to work a double shift on October 31st.

Don't Wear Black
Stay away from dark Halloween costumes that make it hard for drivers to see. If your costume absolutely calls for using colors that aren't very bright, apply a little reflective strip somewhere on your body, like morning joggers do.

Avoid Cumbersome Masks
That Jason Voorhees mask may look cool in the store, but it's not very practical when you are trick or treating this Halloween. The eye holes give you a limited range of vision. The same goes for those full head latex monster masks, although with those, you tend to break out in a sweat in under 5 minutes. Pick a costume that won't disable your vision and overheat your face, or you'll spend your entire Halloween night taking off your Halloween mask.

Bring a Flashlight
If possible, everyone in your group should carry a small flashlight, especially if you plan on trick or treating after sundown.

Porch Lights Off Means "Don't Bother"
Houses with porch lights off generally means the resident inside has no candy to give out to you. Even if a house has a porch light on, it doesn't mean they will answer the door when you come knocking. A good tip is to quickly look down an entire street for house lights on to determine if the block is worth your time.

Don't Egg or Toilet Paper Houses
If you get stiffed on candy, don't resort to egging or "toilet papering" somebody's house. They might not even be home at the time, and your actions might scare their pets or traumatize small children inside. Also, it's never fun spending Halloween night in jail. You're in the business of treats, not tricks.

Let Parents Inspect Candy First
Don't eat any candy before letting your parents sort through it first. There are some truly scary people out there. Additionally, you might be allergic to peanuts and a candy might contain peanuts. If you must eat a piece of candy out of your bag, examine the package clearly for any tears. The funnest part of Halloween is the haul, anyway.