Halloween Safety Tips

WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA TALSMA

Halloween in Montana can be unpredictable – who knows whether it will be snowing, and our kids will need to wear their costumes over snow suits or a perfectly clear night and 60 degrees. Whatever the weather will be, it’s important to keep our little ghouls and monsters safe while out trick-or-treating this Halloween.

Costume Safety

When choosing a costume, it’s important to consider a few factors:

» Make sure that your child’s costume is appropriate for the unpredictable weather.

» Avoid tripping or falling hazards by making sure your kid is wearing the right size costume.

» Avoid costumes that may block your child’s vision such as masks, wigs or oversized hats.

» Test any costume make-up or face paint on a small area of your kid’s skin prior to doing full face make-up to avoid any surprises or potential reactions.

Be Seen and Walk Safely

Ensuring that your kids are visible, especially to motorists, is one of the most important things to do before they leave the house. You can achieve this by doing some of the following:

» When choosing a costume, avoid dark colors. Instead, favor bright and light-colored costumes.

» Use reflective stickers or tape on costumes and bags. » Have your kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.

» Trick-or-treat in a group; larger groups are easier to see especially when crossing streets.

» Remind your kids to cross at street corners, looking both left and right and never dart out into the street.

Have a plan

Kids are known to be mischievous and curious. If you plan to let your child trick-or-treat in a group, follow these steps to keep them safe:

» If you feel like your child is too young to be going out alone, plan to go out with them.

» If you are OK with your child going alone, remember there is safety in numbers and plan to have them trick-or-treat with a group of friends, classmates or even other neighborhood kids.

» Set a route, have a conversation or draw a map for your kids showing where they are allowed to trick-or-treat and the importance of sticking to the plan.

» Set a curfew. Give them a set time of when you expect to have them back home, and have them set a reminder on their phone or watch.

» Remind your kids to never enter the home of a stranger even if they live in the same neighborhood as them.

» Remember that if a house doesn’t look like they are participating in Halloween, then it should be skipped.

Treat Safety

Every kid knows the best part of Halloween is getting to eat all the amazing treats and candy that were given throughout the night. With the chance of Halloween treats being exposed to allergens or other dangerous factors, it’s crucial to remind our children the following:

» Don’t eat candy while out trick-or-treating.

» Never accept a treat that looks to be homemade.

» Never eat candy that hasn’t been inspected by a parent first.

Parents, remember to inspect all the treats that are brought home. Look for anything that looks like the packaging has been tampered with and anything your child may be allergic to. If you suspect either of these, discard the treat immediately.

With these tips and safety precautions you and your little witch, zombie, ninja or ghoul are sure to have a spooktacular and safe Halloween.

Samantha Talsma is the Outreach Coordinator at Child Care Connections, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocating for the well-being and quality care of children. Learn more and get resources at cccmontana.org.

Resources:

»mommabe.com/halloween-safety-tips

» safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips » amig.com/agents/blog/10-safety-tips-to-follow-during-halloween

» amig.com/agents/blog/10-safety-tips-to-follow-during-halloween