October is upon us, and the excitement of Halloween is building up for kids and families! This is a fun-filled season for communities in the Raleigh area, but it can also bring up some safety concerns for parents and guardians. To ensure that the whole family is prepared for a safe night of trick-or-treating and spooky thrills, consider the Halloween safety tips listed below:

Halloween Costume Safety

Getting into costume for Halloween night is an exciting and creative experience for many kids and families! Be sure to consider the following tips when planning Halloween costumes:

• Plan bright or reflective costumes: a reflective trick-or-treat bag or strip of brightly colored tape can go a long way in making sure children can be easily seen when walking the streets on Halloween night.
• Ensure appropriate costume sizing: costumes and shoes that fit properly can help to prevent trips or falls while children are excitedly running through the neighborhood trick-or-treating.
• Consider face paint or makeup instead of masks: choosing non-toxic face paint or makeup instead of masks for Halloween costumes can help to ensure that a child’s vision is not obstructed when walking down the street at night.

Halloween Night Street Safety

Walking through the neighborhood and trick-or-treating with friends and family is a much anticipated activity for kids! Follow these tips to make sure that everyone is safe and informed when traversing the streets on Halloween:

• Always accompany younger children: younger children or children who are trick-or-treating for the first time should always be accompanied by a trusted adult or guardian to reduce any safety risks.
• Discuss the risks of distracted walking: older children trick-or-treating on their own should be well informed of street safety and the risks of walking at night while distracted by cellphones, listening to music, etc.
• Stay on the sidewalk and well-lit streets: teach children to stay on the sidewalk whenever possible and adhere to neighborhood streets that are well lit.
• Drive extra carefully: if driving on Halloween night, make sure to take extra caution when making turns, going through intersections or cutting through neighborhoods.

Halloween Candy Safety

Candy–a crowd favorite of Halloween! To make sure everyone gets to safely enjoy their Halloween treats, follow the tips below:

• Check treats before eating: children should be taught to avoid sampling trick-or-treating candy before it can be checked by an adult. While tampering is rare, you should always look for spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items in a child’s trick-or-treat bag.
• Ensure candy is age appropriate: keep in mind that toddlers should not have any kind of treats that could be a choking hazard–gum, hard candies, jelly beans, etc.
• Keep candy rules realistic: teach children about moderation and balance when it comes to the big bags of treats. Consider making a plan together as a family so everyone knows what to expect for the candy-filled weeks following Halloween.

Following these tips will help to ensure that trick-or-treating is a fun and safe experience for the whole family. CFACE wishes you a wonderful October and a Happy Halloween!