Halloween Safety Tips

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Whether you’re heading to a costume party or out milking the last of your trick-or-treating years, here are some safety tips to keep Halloween night fun!

Have a plan.
Before you set out for the night, be sure you know what you’ll be doing because there’s nothing that spells out trouble like wandering around aimlessly on Halloween night.

Tell someone where you are.
Now that you know what you will be doing, make sure you tell someone. It doesn’t matter if it’s a parent or guardian, a friend or their parent or guardian – just make sure someone you trust knows where you’re going and when you plan to be back.

Bring the essentials.
You’re almost ready to set out, so let’s make sure you have the essentials: a fully charged cell phone or change for payphone calls, your wallet, and a flashlight and batteries.

Organize a group.
Be sure to arrange a meeting place with friends, hopefully not too far from where you live. Make sure you’re not travelling alone after dark.

Wear a safe costume.
It’s important to have a functional costume. The rule of thumb is costumes that keep you from moving properly, seeing or hearing should be out. Also, make sure to wear something bright or reflective ‘cause you never know when you’ll be crossing the street.

Avoid fireworks and firecrackers.
Sure, it’s fun to blow stuff up, but unfortunately many kids end up blowing parts of themselves up. Stay away from fireworks and firecrackers if you’d rather not spend Halloween in the ER.

Don’t eat anything sketchy.
I think we all know this rule. While you’re trick-or-treating, don’t eat any previously opened or unwrapped candy. Do you really want to find out where it’s been or what’s in it?

Decorate smart and safe.
Lastly, if you’re hosting a party, be safe with decorations – don’t use anything that will obstruct movement too much or cause a fire. Avoid using candles if the environment will be crowded – try using electric lights in your jack-o-lanterns.