Complete Guide to Halloween Safety

When you mix costumes and piles of candy, it's bound to be a winner with kids. Indeed, over 90 percent of American children aged 5 to 14 go trick-or-treating on Halloween, while more than $2 billion in candy exchanges hands in just one evening [source: Sullivan].

Each October 31, children swarm the streets, with visions of candy and costumes lighting up the night as little ghosts, Harry Potters, and Hannah Montanas go door-to-door in search of tooth-decaying treats. Sweet, delightful tooth decay.

Like many other indulgences, Halloween carries its own set of risks. Aside from the obvious dental consequences, it's a time when children wear poorly fitting masks, wander across dark streets, and receive candy from unfamiliar faces. However, there's no reason to miss out on the fun. With some knowledge and careful planning, Halloween can still be enjoyed safely, maintaining all the traditional elements that kids, and often their families, eagerly anticipate every October [source: Kurutz].

For most people, the classic Halloween experience involves three key elements: costumes, trick-or-treating, and an abundance of free candy. All are enjoyable, as long as no one stumbles over a long wizard robe or consumes a peanut-filled treat despite an allergy. In this article, we’ll explore how to reduce the risks on Halloween night, ensuring a safe and fun holiday without sacrificing any of the excitement.

Dressing up is a central part of Halloween for many. In fact, candy-givers have been known to deny treats to those who aren't in costume. But before you choose that sleek black ninja outfit or go for the dramatic, cat-eye contact lenses, let's go over some important safety tips for your Halloween costume.

Halloween Costume Safety

On Halloween night, children are hit by cars at a rate four times higher than on any other night of the year [source: CDC].

Of course, there are other, less severe costume-related issues to consider. If you've ever stumbled or fallen while wearing a new pair of shoes, you've encountered one of these problems. Now, imagine countless kids, not always steady on their feet, running around in costumes they’ve never worn before, some of which may not even fit properly, all in the dark.

Getting dressed up often involves unfamiliar clothing, shoes, makeup, and sometimes even a change in eye color. Some people have allergic reactions to face paint, others wear dark-colored costumes that make them blend in with the surroundings, and low-quality contact lenses can pose risks to your eyes. However, you don’t have to stop dressing up altogether. To ensure a safer Halloween costume, follow a few basic guidelines.

Safe costumes include:

Here are a few additional considerations:

After ensuring your costume is safe, it's time to consider the candy portion of the night. Stomachaches are just the beginning of potential issues.

Halloween Candy Safety

While many trick-or-treaters go door-to-door collecting as much candy as possible, Halloween shouldn't be a free-for-all when it comes to taking and eating candy. When you take your kids trick-or-treating, or let them go out with their friends, make sure they stick to houses they know (no strangers!) and avoid eating candy while walking. First, an adult should inspect the candy and discard anything that is:

Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

While choosing safe candy and costumes will set the stage for a successful Halloween, there are a few more crucial tips to ensure the night goes off without a hitch. Let's explore further to avoid common Halloween mishaps.

Halloween Safety Tips

While Halloween safety often comes down to common sense, the thrill of the night and the excitement of little wizards and pop stars can cloud even the clearest heads. Following these extra tips will help keep the chaos of this spooky evening under control:

Be ready: The classic Boy Scout motto still holds true. Make sure that you or your trick-or-treaters are equipped with a flashlight to stay visible in the dark, along with identification and a cell phone in case anyone gets separated from the group.

Know the area: Stick to neighborhoods you are familiar with (preferably your own), and walk on the sidewalks whenever possible. Make sure to review street-crossing safety rules with young children, including: using crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing, and never running out from between parked cars.

Create a plan: If your older children are heading out without you, set clear routes for them so you know where they’ll be, and establish curfews to make sure they don’t stay out too late—this way, you'll know when to start looking for them if they're not home on time.

Minimize risk: Just like in life, there is power in numbers during trick-or-treating. Always make sure to walk in groups. Remind children that they should never, under any circumstances, enter a stranger's house—even if they claim to have "so much more candy inside."

Prepare your home: If you're handing out treats at your house, there are simple things you can do to make the evening safer for trick-or-treaters. Clear any debris or obstacles from your yard and path, ensure your walkway is well-lit, position your lit jack-o-lanterns away from areas with heavy foot traffic, and keep your pets safely contained.

With a little thought and preparation, you and your children can enjoy your costumes and candy-filled buckets to the fullest without a worry in the world. Wishing you a fun and safe holiday!