Trick-or-Treat Safety Guide on Halloween
Keep Children Safe WhenThey Go Asking for Tricks or Treats
Sep 29, 2008
One of the highlights of Halloween is undoubtedly trick-or-treating. The myriad costumes, the mood, the spirit, the company and of course, the treats are why kids love Halloween so much. With a little preparation and safety know-how, parents will be able to keep the evening fun and safe for their kids.
Some Ground Rules
Way before the children leave the house, parents should set some trick-or-treat ground rules. Make sure they understand how important the rules are to keep them free from harm. Here are some practical rules:
- Stay in a group and walk to each house together.
- Move carefully -- no pushing, no jostling and no running.
- Watch out for cars, sharp Halloween decorative items and even dangerous dogs.
- Cross roads at crosswalks if possible.
- Visit only houses with lights on.
- Never enter the homes of strangers without adult supervision or get into strangers' cars.
- Agree on a return time.
Adult Supervision When Trick-or-Treating
Young children should not be allowed to go trick-or-treating without being accompanied by an adult, even if they walk in groups. In the National Safety Council’s Halloween Safety Fact Sheet, it is clearly stated that an adult or an older responsible youth should be supervising the outing of children under the age of 12. The adult responsible should also be armed with a flashlight, first aid kit, cell phone and contact numbers of the parents of the children in the group.
Safe Route and Area
Plan a safe route and decide where to do the trick-or-treat rounds. Your own neighbourhood is the best as the children will be familiar with many of the houses and residents there. Also, the children are less likely to get lost if they are accidentally separated from the group! Instruct the children not to cut through dark back alleys. They should always stay in well-lit areas too.
Practical Halloween Costumes for Kids
Some creepy and cool-looking Halloween costumes may give more pain than pleasure. So make sure the children don comfortable and safe costumes. Here are some tips:
- Avoid masks. They usually make it hard for children to see or breathe easily. Face paint may be a better choice.
- Use flame-resistant materials to make costumes. If buying, just check the labels to make sure the costumes have that requirement.
- Ensure the costumes fit nicely. Excessively long outfit and floppy shoes can cause tripping.
Candy Concerns
The candy treats are great but the children need to know that they can only eat them after mum and dad have inspected them and declare them safe to eat. Many children are allergic to certain foods. So it’s best to be extra careful. If unsure of the ingredients used in a particular candy, discard it. The same goes with loose and unwrapped candy.
Check for expiry dates too. Parents who are concerned that their children may be eating too much candy on Halloween and the few days after should consider trading the candy with other non-sugary treats such as stickers, balloons or a small toy.
Parents with food-allergic children have even bigger concerns and should follow specific safety precautions for children with food allergies.
Taking extra precaution is the only way to ensure children have a spooky and safe Halloween outing. So play it safe – establish rules for the kids to follow, get an adult to accompany them, plan the route and area first, let the children wear comfortable and practical costumes as well as check the candy treats before allowing them to eat any.
Found this article useful? Read also Halloween Safety Tips for Homeowners and Halloween Costume Safety Tips for Kids.
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