Halloween is the only acceptable time to take candy from strangers. Well, most of the time. Kids love to dress up in fun costumes and go around town to say “trick or treat!,” knowing they’ll receive a treat of candy. However, there are a lot of tricks that can happen if you and your child are not careful. The excitement of Halloween night can not get in the way of safety and that is why the American Red Cross wants you to know these Halloween safety tips in order to enjoy one of the best nights of the year!

Costumes

You can’t have Halloween without dressing up! Kids and adults alike love to wear costumes. Whether you go as a Disney princess or Ghost Face, it is important to follow these Halloween costume tips.

• Make sure the costume fits well. Kids love to run around town under the darkness of night, so it is fairly common for them to trip and fall over their long costumes. Make sure it is short enough to prevent tripping or snagging.
• Test makeup beforehand. Lots of costume makeup can make people’s skin irritated and break out into a rash. Test it before Halloween night on a small patch of skin to ensure it is safe before putting it on your entire face.
• Leave accessories at home. Masks can be dangerous, especially as the night gets darker, because they can obstruct your view. Consider taking the mask off early in the night to ensure you can see later on. Similarly, long swords or sticks can be dangerous as well so it is best to just leave them at home instead of dragging them with you around town.
• Be careful with decorative contact lenses. Do not use them without an eye exam or prescription from a professional. The packaging on the lenses can be misleading, so do not trust them 100%. It is best to get clearance from a real eye doctor to prevent serious eye injuries.

Treats

Dumping out your pillowcase at the end of the night to eat all the candy you collected is the most satisfying part of Halloween. However, you did take candy from strangers so it is important to follow these important Halloween food tips.

• Don’t eat anything blindly. Food tampering is rare, but you must wait until you can clearly see the treats before eating them to ensure they look ok and haven't been opened or spoiled. Throw away anything that looks suspicious to be safe.
• Be aware if you have a food allergy. Halloween can be the hardest night for those with allergies. The temptation of the sweet treats make it hard to resist. Make sure your Epi-Pen is with you at all times and that you or someone who is with you knows how to use it if you do eat something you’re allergic to.
• Remove choking hazards from young children. Tiny hard candies, gum, and small toys are common treats that are given out. If you have a young child with you, take the choking hazards away to prevent them from putting them in their mouths.
• Prevent kids from eating everything in one night. Parents are responsible for the well-being of their children and it is important for them to establish rules to keep them healthy and prevent sugar addictions.

General Safety

The costume and candy tips are the two main categories of things you need to be aware of during Halloween. In addition, there are more safety rules that need to be applied in order to have fun and stay safe. It is important to follow the rest of these Halloween safety tips.

• Make sure you can be seen by drivers. Always stay on the sidewalk, never walk in the middle of the road. As the night gets darker, keep a flashlight with you or attach glowsticks or reflective tape to yourself so you are clearly visible and others can see you.
• Stranger danger still applies. Never go into anyone’s house or car. Even though it’s Halloween, you still have to be aware of strangers like it’s any other day.
• Keep in contact with an adult. Check in with your trusted adult throughout the night so they know you are safe and can help ASAP if something bad does happen. Make sure you know their phone number and have a way to call or text them.
• Never go out alone. Younger children should always travel in groups with an authorized parent/adult. Older children should also always travel in groups and create a buddy system so everyone is accounted for.

Halloween is supposed to be a night full of treats and fun tricks. If you follow all of the costume, treat, and general safety tips, you are fully prepared to have the best Halloween ever!

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Written by Emma Wong