Many kids look forward to trick-or-treating on Halloween all year. Unfortunately, it can present a few health hazards if parents aren’t careful. Find out how you can keep Halloween fun (and safe) with these essential tips.
Medical contributions and review by Esther Kim Liu, MD, FAAP.
Halloween is an exciting time, from the costumes to the candy. As kids get caught up in the fun, they still need adult supervision and guidance to stay safe. Here are seven tips to help kids have a healthy and safe time.
1. Choose Flame-resistant Costumes.
Always choose costumes that are labeled flame-resistant. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, choose flame-resistant fabrics like polyester or nylon for your homemade creations. This precaution helps protect against accidental contact with flames from candles or other decorations.
2. Be Seen. Be Safe
Kids can get excited at Halloween and may want to run from house to house. This can potentially cause injuries, especially if you’re trick-or-treating after dark.
Make your child easily visible by selecting bright, reflective costumes. You can also add strips of reflective tape to their costume or treat bags or have them carry a light to increase visibility for drivers. Glow sticks are a fun alternative to reflective gear. Flashlights can also help them get into the Halloween spirit.
Talk with your kids about always watching for cars. Don’t let them dart out into the street, walk between parked cars or cross the street without looking both ways.
3. Prevent Trips and Falls
While a flowing cape or long dress might look dramatic, ensure costumes aren’t so long that they pose a tripping danger. Also, make sure masks do not obstruct your child’s vision.
4. Choose the Right Makeup
If makeup is part of the costume, test it 24–48 hours before wearing it by applying a small amount to a patch of skin, such as the inner forearm. Watch for any signs of irritation, such as itchiness, a rash, redness or swelling, which could indicate an allergy. And be sure to check the Food and Drug Administration’s list of color additives to ensure the dyes used in the makeup are approved for their intended use.
5. Check Candy Before Eating
Food safety is just as important as having fun. Keep these simple, yet essential tips, in mind before trick-or-treating:
- Inspect all candy at home. Throw out anything with an unusual appearance, discoloration, tiny pinholes or torn wrappers.
- Watch for allergens. Always check labels for allergens, and teach your children not to eat anything that isn’t in its original wrapper.
- Remove choking hazards. For young children, remove choking hazards such as gum, hard candies, peanuts or small toys from their bags.
6. Keep Hands Clean
While trick-or-treating is part of Halloween fun for many kids, it can also be a prime way to spread germs. Kids tend to get sick around Halloween time because viruses are spreading. Always have children scrub their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating candy.
7. Know Your Route
Before heading out, plan your route and let children know where they can go. Children should also be taught never to enter a stranger’s home and to approach houses only when they are well-lit. This usually indicates that the homeowners are welcoming trick-or-treaters and the area is safer.
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