Accidents on Halloween can spoil the fun — and possibly lead to an ugly personal injury suit. Keep everyone all smiles this Halloween by avoiding typical Halloween safety hazards.
Costume Safety
By federal law, all costumes and accessories sold in retail stores should be flame resistant, but if you are making your child’s costume, you should use materials like nylon on polyester, which are inherently flame-resistant. The CPSC says the number one reason why kids end up in the hospital on Halloween is because of injuries sustained from falling; avoid costumes with long, billowing parts that could get caught on something. Even long sleeves, wings, or non-dragging capes could be a hazard when candles are nearby, so try to keep costumes as trim as possible. Kids should wear reflective clothing or tape to be seen easily by cars if going out after dark. Face paint is always safer than a mask; however, if the mask is a must, make sure kids take them off when crossing the street — and that eye holes are big enough for clear sight to begin with.
Handling That Candy
Well-fed kids will be less tempted to dive into their treasures before getting home, so feed them a decent dinner before they’re out the door; always require kids to let you inspect their treats to check for tampering before they eat anything. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises parents not to allow kids to eat any Halloween goodies that aren’t commercially wrapped. Also, be wary of ciders (make sure they’re pasteurized), cheese platters (keep all foods chilled when possible), and other Halloween party fare. Who knows who’s been bobbing for those apples, anyway?
Trick-or-Treating
Whether you’re going out with your children at night or not (accompanying them is highly recommended), make sure they are carrying flashlights. Also teach kids to obey traffic signals and signs, as well as to walk on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic, although kids should always stay on sidewalks when possible. The KidSafe Foundation strongly advises going out with your kids on Halloween (your kids’ safety is more important than you staying home to hand out candy), but if you do send kids out, make sure they are always in a group and are using the buddy system. Kids should be instructed to only visit homes of people you know, and to check in with you at designated times; kids should not go into anyone’s home or stop to talk to anyone driving a car.
As a Homeowner
Avoid kids getting injured on your lawn or porch by keeping candles out of your decor. Make sure icy sidewalks around your house are shoveled and salted, and that any obstructions that could trips someone — garden hoses, for instance — are removed, as well as ladders or other dangers. Halloween is a very good night to keep your dog on a tight leash. Also, resist the temptation to hand out hand-made treats, which could spoil or simply leave you to be blamed for a stomachache. Stick to store-bought, pre-packaged, recently-purchased treats.
Halloween is supposed to be scary — but it can turn into a real-life nightmare if someone gets hurt. Use common sense to avoid obvious safety hazards for yourself, your kids, and those little ghouls knocking on your door.
