Halloween Safety
If you are driving
somewhere…
 | Watch for traffic |
| Watch for children darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways. |
| Children may be wearing dark costumes and will be hard to see at night. |
Before children
go out "trick
or treating"… | Escort the little ones only to homes you know |
| Make sure that younger children are chaperoned by an adult, and that you know the names of everyone in the group. |
| Travel in familiar areas and stop at well-lit houses or apartment complexes. |
| Make sure your child knows your telephone number and has change to call home. |
Instruct children…
| Do not eat any treat prior to their parents inspecting it. |
| Do not walk in the street (pedestrian safety) |
| Do not walk across people’s yards (unfamiliar terrain may pose tripping hazards) |
| Never enter a stranger’s home. |
Some tips on
Halloween Fire Safety…
| Make sure costumes are flame resistant or flame retardant. |
| Keep paper, cornstalks and other flammable decorations away from all heat sources (candles, light bulbs, heaters,…). |
| Use flashlights instead of candles or torchlights to illuminate your walkways/yards. |
| Use a small flashlight or glow-sticks to illuminate your carved pumpkin. |
| Teach children the "stop, drop, and roll" technique in event that their costume catches fire. |
Costumes… | Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween so make sure that the costumes are not a tripping hazard. Also make sure that the costumes are loose so that warm clothing can be worn underneath. |
| Purchased costumes should be made out of fire-retardant materials. |
| Use strips of reflective tape or use light colored clothing to make sure that the child is visible in the dark. |
| You may want to attach the name, address, and telephone number to the costume of younger children. |
| Take caution when using a mask in a costume, as they can obstruct a child’s vision &/or respiration. |
| If you choose to use Halloween make-up, check the packages for labeling that states "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives", "Laboratory Tested", "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics", or "Non-Toxic". |
| Knives or swords or other accessories should be made from cardboard or other flexible materials. Inspect store bought accessories for any sharp edges, etc… |
| "Trick or Treat" bags should be light colored to allow for visibility. Provide children with a flashlight. |
Inspect treats
when your child comes home…
| Inspect all treats before the kids eat them |
| If it looks suspicious, call the police. |
| Wash and cut all fruit into small pieces. |
| Throw out any candy with ripped or open packages. |
| If in doubt, throw it out. |
Have Fun and Stay Safe!!
References:
Fact Sheet on Halloween Safety, National Safety Council, 10/20/97.
Fact Sheet on Halloween Fire Safety, National Fire Protection Agency.
