Halloween Safety: A Spooktacular Guide to Keeping Your Kids Safe

Halloween is a time for tricks and treats, costumes, and all things sweet! But, let's not forget that amidst the fun, there are some spooky dangers lurking in the shadows. BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Specialist Michelle Sterling helps keep the fun from turning into fright with these safety tips. 

Safe Trick-or-Treating
According to Sterling, pedestrian safety tops the Halloween hazard list. The risk of children being struck by cars on Halloween is more than double that of any other day in the year, making it one of the spookiest nights for our little trick-or-treaters. 

“It’s important for parents and caregivers to remind their trick-or-treaters about walking safely and sharing the road with drivers before they leave their house,” said Sterling.

• Have an adult accompany children at all times.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Remind children to look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Always make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked vehicles.
• Put electronic devices down and keep heads up when walking.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe
Whether it’s a little vampire or a magical unicorn, don’t let costumes become a safety scare.

• Choose costumes with light or bright colors and decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape.
• Opt for face paint and makeup rather than masks that can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Select costumes that fit well and avoid billowy materials that can cause children to trip.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Driving Safely on Halloween
Drivers, be extra vigilant! Watch out for excited trick-or-treaters who might not be paying attention to their surroundings. Slow down, stay alert and avoid distractions.

• Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road. Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully. 
• Reduce distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians.

Going Through the Goody Bag 
Before indulging in your Halloween sweets, remember to check your candy for any signs of tampering. When in doubt, toss it out!

• When inspecting the candy, remove anything that isn’t wrapped. 
• Some treats could pose a choking hazard so look for anything small that could get stuck in a child’s throat. 
• Consider feeding your children before they go out, which may help them stay full and avoid the temptation to eat the goodies they get while trick-or-treating.
• Set a limit of candy for the following days, one to two pieces to avoid excess calories and sugar.

For more tips on how to keep your children healthy and safe this Halloween and all year long, visit BayCare Kids.