Halloween Safety

Halloween Safety

Halloween night can be one of the funest times of the year for kids. Keep in mind however, that usually where fun presents itself, danger often works its way in as well. There is no other time in the whole year where so many small, young, children will find themselves in the street. This can be dangerous in many ways. Luckily there are many things a caring parent can do to minimize danger.

Costumes
There are many things that should be looked at and thought about starting the minute you read this. Some things must be planned ahead of time. The first of all things is the costume. For the younger kids that still seem to aimlessly wonder around the neighborhood streets without looking for traffic should be wearing costumes with bright colors, reflectors, or even reflective tape. A young child in an all black costume is the sign of a parent who doesn’t love their little one. Darker costumes are fine as long as you use some kind of reflective.

Bags
It is always a good idea to have a bright reflective bag to put candy in. That way, even if your costume is darker, you will still be more visible. It is a wise idea to put your child’s emergency information on the bag (especially if there is no parent supervision) in case of emergency. Find something that is easy to carry and durable. A bag that brakes under the pressure of all the candy will ruin a child’s life. And worse, you (the parent) can rob the tootsie rolls afterwards! Get a good bag!

Props
Be very careful with any props such as knifes, guns, or swords. Make sure that any weapons look fake. If a weapon doesn’t look fake enough, put some kind of neon orange colorful tip on it. Teach kids not to do anything irresponsible with these props and explain existing dangers such as someone mistaking them for real weapons and not props.

Flashlights
Not much here. Just make sure they work ahead of time and get new batteries. It is also a very good idea to use glow sticks.

Talk To Your Kids
Talk with children about appropriate and un-appropriate Halloween behavior. Review with them how to use 911. Teach them to look for suspicious behavior. It’s also not a bad idea to go over the stop drop and roll procedure. (There are several fire related incidents reported every year.) Tell them where to go, and what time to be home. That way you know when to start worrying. Make them wear a watch and give them money to make a non-emergency phone call.

Feed Kids a Huge Dinner
There are 2 great reasons to provide your kids a large dinner before going out. First, they will need the energy, but perhaps more importantly, if the kids eat a large dinner, they will not be as tempted to eat their trick or treat candy before you can review it. Tell the kids not to eat anything before you review it.

Groups
Go in groups. There should be an adult or at least an older child with each group. Teach them only to knock doors with porch light on.

Commuting
Walk on sidewalk. If there is none, walk on the very edge of the road. Stay off dark streets. Stay off secluded streets. There could be muggers there and cars are also less likely to see you. Rollerblades, skateboards, and bikes are generally not recommended. Do not enter ANY strangers car or house EVER. Obey all traffic signs and street laws and try to always walk. Running can attract a lot of skeptical attention.

Be Alert
Be alert and look for anything suspicious. Don’t hesitate in notifying the authorities of anything out of the norm.

Check the Treats
One of the most important things for a parent to do is revise the treats. Though it is not common, sometimes people do make the treat dangerous. Such things have been reported as needles in apples and poison on candies. You should look for things like unwrapped or tampered with candy. It’s probably a good idea to throw out fruit since it’s easily tampered with. Don’t let little children eat things they are liable to choke on. It’s also important to take some candy for yourself.

One More Thing
If you are staying home and handing out candy, to avoid another frivolous lawsuit, please prepare your house. Remove anything that could be an obstacle. You don’t want anything out that a kid could trip over. Tie up any animal also or put it in the backyard.

A Review
Here is a quick review in case you forgot something or were just too lazy to read it all. Make sure to……

• Bright, colorful, easy to see costumes
• Durable, colorful bag with contact information
• Be careful with props
• Prepare flashlights and glow sticks
• Talk to kids
• Big dinner
• Groups
• Commuting Safety
• Be alert
• Check kid’s treats
• Prepare your house

Following these safety tips and guidelines, Halloween should be safe and fun. Remember, there are countless other things that one can do to protect their kids on Halloween night. Different places have different circumstances. Don’t be afraid to implement any good ideas that you might have. You should also share your good ideas with other parents.