How to Keep Your Kids Safe on Halloween

While Halloween is a fun family traditions inother cars will. Be a defensive pedestrian.
America, it is also one of the most deadly and10. Don't allow children to run from house to
dangerous. Daunting Halloween injury statisticshouse.
should pose the real fright to parents on11. Avoid back-over accidents by always staying
Halloween. Statistically, Halloween usually competesin clear view of a driver and never behind a
1-2-3 with Fourth of July and New Years Eve forvehicle.
the most injuries and deaths. Your job as a12. Never allow children to dart from behind a
parent is to try and keep your kids as safe asparked car to cross the street. Drivers may not
possible. Most parents know about candysee your children
tampering. However, many parents don't realizeHalloween Fire Safety
burns, pedestrian injuries and falls account for theFires and burns are the third leading cause of
majority of the injuries on Halloween. Here is howinjury related death among children. Take the
to make sure that your kids don't becomefollowing safety precautions:
accident statistics.1. When purchasing a costume, masks, beards,
A Halloween ounce of prevention...and wigs, look for the label "Flame Resistant."
The excitement of children and adults at this timeWhile this label does not mean these Halloween
of year sometimes makes them forget to becostume and accessories won't catch fire, it
careful. Many of the risks children face can bemeans the items will resist burning and should
avoided if parents follow simple safety tips andextinguish quickly once removed from the ignition
talk to their children about safety before they gosource.
trick-or-treating. Plan and review with your children2. Minimize the risk of contact with candles or
the acceptable route and behavior. A responsibleother sources of ignition, and avoid costumes
adult should always be with children whilemade with flimsy materials and outfits with big,
trick-or-treating.baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Carving the pumpkin3. Don't allow children to walk near lit candles or
Kids always want to help with the pumpkinflame.
carving. Here are pumpkin safety tips.4. Use only battery powered lanterns or chemical
1. Don't allow small children to use a sharp knife tolightsticks.
cut the top or the face.5. Keep candles, lit jack-o-lanterns, matches and
2. Let kids clean out the pumpkin and draw a facelighters out of children's reach.
on pumpkin.6. Review with your children the principle of
3. Don't place candles in pumpkins if young children"Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
will be near the pumpkins.Avoiding Halloween Falls
Costume safety: Avoiding Dangerous HalloweenCumbersome costumes and masks make walking
Costumesthrough dark neighborhood streets dangerous for
Every Halloween children are injured or killed duechildren. Here is how to avoid Halloween fall injuries
to dangerous Halloween costumes. Here are someto children:
Halloween costume safety tips:1. Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes
1. Choose costumes that are light and brightto avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
enough to be visible to motorists.2. Costumes should be short enough to prevent
2. Decorate costumes and treat bags withchildren from tripping and falling.
reflective tape. 3. Costumes should be short3. Eye holes should be large enough for good
enough to prevent children from tripping.peripheral vision.
4. Cosmetics and face paints are better than a4. Flashlights help trick-or-treaters see where they
loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing orare walking to prevent falls.
obscure vision.5. Don't allow children to walk across lawns with
5. Knives, swords and similar costume accessoriesHalloween decorations or other hazards.
should short with flexible and soft material. BeKeep your kid from being "kidnapped": Halloween
sure the tips are smooth and flexible enough toSafety
not cause injury if fallen on.Child abduction is never a joking matter. Here are
6. High heels are not a good idea. Children shouldtips to keeping kids safe:
wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.1. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or
7. Avoid costumes with big, baggy sleeves orwith a trusted adult.
billowing skirts.2. Children should go only to homes where the
8. Securely tie hats and scarfs to prevent themresidents are known and have outside lights on as
from slipping over children's eyes.a sign of welcome.
Don't become a Halloween pedestrian statistic3. Don't allow children to get into cars or talk to
Halloween consistently ranks as one of the moststrangers.
deadly days of the year to pedestrians. Here is4. Securely place emergency identification (name,
how to avoid being run over by a car onaddress, phone number) within children's Halloween
Halloween:attire or on a bracelet.
1. Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help5. Be sure to agree on a specific time when
maximize visibility.everyone must return home.
2. All children should have their own flash light, with6. Accompany younger children to the door of
fresh batteries.every home they approach
3. Be sure to remind children to look both ways7. Teach children if anyone tries to grab them to
before crossing the street.make a scene; loudly yell this person is not my
4. Walk only on established sidewalks or stay asfather/mother; and make every effort to get
close as possible to the shoulder of the road. Thataway by kicking, screaming, biting and resisting.
way you can see approaching cars, and theyInspecting the Halloween loot: tampering and
have a better chance of seeing you.choking hazards
5. If children are walking in a group, walk single-file.Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult
6. Don't allow children to skateboard, roller-blade orshould closely examine all treats and throw away
bicycle while trick-o-treating.any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
7. Make sure kids remove any mask or costume1. No treats are to be eaten until they are
that will obscure vision before crossing a street,thoroughly checked by an adult at home.
driveway or alley.2. Examine all treats for choking hazards and
8. Remind children not to assume the right oftampering before eating them.
way. Drivers have difficulty seeing3. Eat only factory-wrapped treats.
trick-or-treaters.4. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you
9. Just because one car stops, doesn't meanknow the cook well.