As families suit-up for Halloween festivities, the American Red Cross Indiana Region urges parents and children to keep safety a priority during trick-or-treating and costume events. Halloween can be filled with spooky fun and chilling excitement, but it’s also important to be aware of scary safety hazards. With a few simple precautions, everyone can enjoy the season without any frightful accidents.

The Red Cross offers these important Halloween safety tips to ensure a safe and spooky celebration:

Costume Safety

• Use face paint instead of masks. Masks can obstruct vision, making it hard for children to see.
• Choose bright or reflective costumes. Use reflective tap or glow sticks to help make sure children are visible.
• Ensure costumes are flame-resistant. Keep costumes, wigs and accessories away from open flames, including candles and jack-o-lanterns.

Trick-or-Treating Safety

• Have adult supervision. Children under the age of 12 should always be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating.
• Use sidewalks and crosswalks. If possible, stick to well-lit areas and use crosswalks when crossing streets.
• Stay in groups. If children are trick-or-treating with friends, encourage them to stay together and never enter a stranger’s home or vehicle.
• Check treats. Parents should inspect all candy before children consume it, discarding anything that looks suspicious, unwrapped or homemade by someone they don’t know.

Home Safety

• Light up the night. Ensure your porch, walkway and yard are well-lit to prevent accidents for trick-or-treaters.
• Clear walkways of hazards. Remove anything that could cause trips or falls, such as toys, hoses and decorations.
• Use battery-operated candles. Instead of open-flame candles in pumpkins or decorations, opt for battery-powered alternatives to reduce the risk of fire.

Driving Safety

• Slow down. Be especially cautious in residential neighborhoods where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present.
• Stay alert. Watch for children crossing streets or walking on roads where sidewalks are not available.
• Avoid distractions. Put away phones and other distractions to stay focused on the road.

For other safety information, download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to first aid advice and the free Emergency app for weather alerts. Find these and other Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross. LinkedIn: American Red Cross of Indiana.