Halloween is upon us and it can be super fun and exciting for some but… parents beware that ghouls and goblins aren’t the only dangers to watch out for during your trick-or-treating adventures with kids. There are spooky things to watch out for like cars while crossing the road, trips and falls, and candy quality. So, here is a cheat-sheet of safety tips for kids and parents.
WALK SAFELY
- Whenever possible cross the street at corners using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Remember to look left, right, and left again when crossing… and keep looking.
- Keep electronics away so you can listen to and look at your surroundings.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths or if there is not sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Carry a flashlight or headlight to light the path once it gets dark to avoid trips and falls.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
- Don’t go into the homes of people you don’t know.
EAT SAFELY
- Adults should examine candy before eating them.
- Never eat open or unwrapped halloween foods.
- Ask your parent or guardian if unsure about eating a treat.
- Call the National Poison Center toll-free number if your child becomes ill or believe the treat was tampered with: 1-800-222-1222
COSTUME SAFETY
- Use reflective tape on costumes and bags to help drivers see children at night.
- Make sure costumes are the right size to avoid trips and falls.
- Avoid wearing masks that limit obstruct field of vision. Wear face paint and makeup instead whenever possible.
- Carry a glow stick, glow necklace, or glow bracelet to help spot your child at night easier.
DRIVE SAFELY
- Drive slowly in residential neighborhoods.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections.
- Enter and exit driveways carefully.
- Eliminate distractions in car to improve alertness and concentration on driving.
- Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic.
- Turn on your headlights earlier to help be seen.
- Be extra alert during popular trick-or-treating times – 5:30pm – 9:30pm.
KIDS TRICK-OR-TREAT WITH AN ADULT
- Children under 12 should trick-or-treat with adult supervision.
- Parents with young children might want to bring a stroller to carry tired children or extra candy.
- Bring a backpack to carry extra candy.
- Remind children who are mature enough to trick or treat without adult supervision to stay with their group in light and familiar areas.
- In case of an emergency dial 911.
SPOOK-TACULAR OFFER
- Download our Halloween Safety Tips & Spook-Tacular Offer.pdf
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Question: What additional Halloween safety tips to you have?… besides not eating all the candy at once! ;P
Written by: Yoendry Torres, Psy.D.