Halloween Safety

During all Halloween events, it is important to put safety first. Halloween is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and following some basic safety tips can help everyone enjoy a fun Halloween.

Here are some helpful tips for trick-or-treating activities:

Costume safety

• Choose costumes that are light-colored and more visible to motorists.
• Use reflective tape to decorate costumes and candy bags to increase visibility of children to drivers. Reflective tape may be purchased at hardware, bicycle, or sporting goods stores.
• Use make-up rather than a mask; if your child’s costume does include a mask, make sure it fits snugly and that the eyeholes are large enough to allow full vision.
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
• Costumes should be short enough that a child will not trip and fall.
• Choose costume accessories such as swords or knives that are made of soft and flexible material.
• Costumes should be made of flame-retardant material.
• Do not use novelty contacts such as “cat eyes” or “snake eyes.”

Pedestrian safety

• Engage in Halloween activities during the daylight hours, if possible.
• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
• Remind children to walk, not run, and to only cross streets at crosswalks.
• Be sure your children are accompanied by a responsible adult who has a flashlight. Flashlights or chemical light sticks should be used so that children can see and be seen by motorists.

Halloween home safety

• Remove obstacles from your lawn, porch, or steps if you are expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Make sure your front porch is well-lit.
• Avoid using candle-lit jack-o-lanterns if possible. If you do use candles, don’t place them near curtains, furnishings, or decorations. Move them off porches where children’s costumes may ignite.
• Keep your pets in another room when you are expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Small children should not carve pumpkins; instead, allow them to draw the designs on the pumpkin and adults may carve.
• Turn on an outside light if welcoming trick-or-treaters.

Treat safety

• Instruct children to wait until they are home to eat any candy.
• Check candy and novelty toys for potential choking hazards.
• Make sure packaging doesn't have any tears or tampering.
• Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

Motorists

• Slow down, especially in residential areas.
• Watch for children darting out from parked cars.
• Use child safety seats or seat belts when driving children around, and have children get out of cars on the curb side, not facing traffic.

Additional links

• Keep You Eyes Safe on Halloween, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Safety Tips for Halloween, Food and Drug Administration