Halloween is one of the most beloved of holidays for kids of all ages; the costumes, all that candy and the spooky decorations are a tradition that children look forward to every year all over the USA and many parts of the world. For happy Halloween childhood memories for your children, follow these safety guidelines.
Costumes
If possible, a Halloween costume should be bright colored and reflective, so that it is visible to car drivers. If the costume has to be a dark color, have the child wear or carry glow sticks, carry a flashlight (bring along spare batteries) or attach reflective strips to the costume. Ensure that the costume is well fitting and does not drag along the ground, as the child may trip and fall over.
If a mask is part of the costume, the child should still be able to see clearly all around them; if there are any doubts, leave the mask at home and apply makeup to the face instead, as an alternative to the mask. Choose accessories wisely. Even fake swords and knives can do damage in a child’s hands.
When buying a costume, look for one with a flame-resistant label. It won’t stop the costume from catching fire but it will minimize the risk of injury to the child by resisting burning and extinguishing quickly. Be aware that a billowing, flimsy costume is more likely to catch fire.
Trick-or-Treating
The Mayo Clinic recommends an adult accompany children under the ages of 12 years old while trick-or-treating. As most trick-or-treating is done after dark, tell children that they must walk, not run, to prevent falls or from falling into an unseen object. It may be better to take very young children trick-or-treating before darkness falls.
A good idea for youngsters, is to have their full name and parents cell phone number pinned somewhere onto their costume, in case they are separated. When walking around the neighborhood, teach children to be wary of animals and stay away from and don’t pet ones that they don’t know.
For older children, have them go out with a group of friends and tell them to stay together at all times. Map out a route in a familiar neighborhood, that is well lit, where porch lights are on and where many people will be out and about. Stress to children that they should stay out in the open, even if it means taking the long way around, children should stay on the sidewalk and not venture into dark alleys or empty car parks.
Have the child wear a watch and arrange a time for them to be back. For added safety, give the older child a cell phone to use in case of emergency. Children should be taught to only accept candy on the front porch of someone’s house. They must never accept an invitation to go around to the back of the house, into a house or for a ride in a car to get candy.
Candy
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children not eat any of the trick-or-treat candy before it is bought home and inspected by an adult for any evidence of tampering. Discard any unsealed or suspicious looking candy. For very young children take out any candy that may not be suitable such as hard candy, gum and candy containing nuts.
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