10 Halloween safety tips: All treats, no tricks

Halloween is quickly approaching, and ghouls and goblins everywhere are competing for this year’s best costume. It’s difficult not to get swept up in all the excitement and hocus pocus of Halloween! But safety always comes first. Here are a few some tips to help your family have a safe and frightfully fun Halloween.

1.  Choose costume accessories wisely.

Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. 

2.  Don’t go solo.

Avoid trick-or-treating alone; instead, choose to walk in groups.

3.  Make sure you and your kids can be seen.

Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Hold a flashlight or have kids use glow sticks to help them see and be seen by drivers while trick-or-treating. Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks and sidewalks wherever possible, or keep to the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

4.  Be a candy detective.

Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.

5.  Eye spy.

Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.

6.  Make sure everything fits.

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.

7.  Use candles safely.

Keep candlelit jack o’lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

8.  Carve pumpkins carefully.

Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers and parents can do the cutting. Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.

9.  Don't forget about the dogs.

Restrain pets so they don't inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater at the door. Use caution when approaching houses where dogs are present.

10. Be a cautious driver.

Remember to watch out for trick-or-treaters and drive safely. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

Happy trick-or-treating! Wishing you and your family a fun, safe Halloween.