Ways to keep your little pumpkins safe this Halloween
The spooky season is upon us! Here are some ways you can keep your little pumpkins safe while trick-or-treating this Halloween.
General trick-or-treating Safety Tips
Don’t let your kids trick-or-treat without an adult, especially if they are age 12 or under.
When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. Choose face paint over masks when possible, as masks can limit children’s vision. If using face paint, make sure to test it on a small area of your child’s skin before applying it to their face.
Choose costumes without small choking hazards or drawstrings, which can pose strangulation hazards. Remove the drawstrings from costumes that have hoods.
Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags, and wear light colors to help kids see and be seen by drivers. Children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
Drivers, slow down and be especially alert! Kids are excited on Halloween and may dart into the street. Turn on headlights early in the day to spot kids from farther away. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully, and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Remind children to cross the street at corners or crosswalks, use sidewalks where possible, and look left, right, then left again before crossing a road.
Remind children never to enter a stranger’s residence or car.
Sources: Safe Kids Worldwide, National Safety Council and Kids In Danger
COVID-19 trick-or-treating safety Tips
For trick-or-treaters and parents:
Stay outdoors for activities, particularly if participants are not vaccinated.
Trick or treat in small groups.
Avoid congregating in groups around residences.
If indoors or in crowded outdoor settings, wear face masks that cover both the mouth and nose. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask if wearing both causes difficulty breathing. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
Tips for those passing out candy:
Distribute candy on a table to eliminate direct contact.
Consider handing out candy in an open space where distancing is possible, rather than from the front door.