Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a time when children are able to dress up in costumes, parade around going house to house to acquire treats. Unfortunately, there are also many mean people in this world who use this night of fun to prey on children. Here are some tips for keeping your child safe from danger on Halloween night.

When deciding on a costume, take these things into consideration. Can your child move comfortably in the costume? Can your child run in this costume if necessary? Is the costume light colored, or can you easily add reflective color to the costume? Can your child easily see and breathe while wearing the mask?

Never let your child go trick-or-treating alone. Make sure that either you or another trusted adult is with your child at all times. The best situation would be for a few adults to chaperone a group of kids and all of you stick together. There is safety in numbers, and predators are likely to stay clear of your child if you are with a group of other adults and children.

Teach your child the dangers of strangers. Instruct your child not approach any vehicles of strangers, and to run right to you or another trusted adult if a stranger approaches them. It is also important that your child knows to never go into the house of a stranger. Trick-or-treating should never involve a child being asked to enter a house.

Teach your child to keep safety first whenever they are crossing the road. There are a lot of cars out driving around on Halloween night, and not all of the drivers pay attention as they should. Tell your child not to cross the street without you or another trusted adult, and to be sure to look both ways before crossing the road.

With the candy in possession, it is time to go home. Be sure you check each piece of candy before allowing your child to eat any of it. If it is open or appears to have been tampered with, throw it away. If you find anything dangerous in the candy such as a needle or razor blade, report it to the authorities immediately.

Halloween is a time for great fun. So, have fun, and keep it safe. Be sure your child's costume is easy to move in, and reflective. Be sure any mask your child wears is easy to breathe and see out of. Use the safety of numbers whenever possible, and teach your child the dangers of strangers. Be sure your child crosses all roads carefully and with a trusted adult. Last, but not least, check all candy before letting your kids eat any.