3 Easy Halloween Safety Tips

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Trick or Treat? Halloween is here again. It's time for Halloween parties, pumpkin carving, and spooky decorations. As you and your families step out in costume this year, we want to help you limit those tricky surprises to spooky ghouls and scary witches. Check out the following three Halloween safety tips to ensure this holiday remains a treat. When we asked parents about their most pressing Halloween safety concerns, many voiced fears about poison candy and child abductions while forgetting about one major safety offender: cars. As you and your children venture out for sweet treats, keep in mind that year after year, Halloween remains at the near-top of the list for pedestrian injuries and fatalities according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Being aware of potential danger is critical in preventing a vehicle accident. Although traffic laws clearly state that cars must yield to pedestrians, it's important for you and your children to understand that laws like these can't prevent an accident from occurring. Read on for more valuable Halloween safety tips.

Caution & Visibility

• Use sidewalks
• Use designated crosswalks
• Look both ways before crossing
• Wear a reflective Halloween costume or attach reflective tape
• Carry glow sticks or flashlights

If you're in the driver's seat this Halloween, exercise additional caution when driving through neighborhoods.

• Drive under the speed limit
• Avoid distractions such as phones

Staying in Contact

• Have a phone
• Have a plan

If your children are old enough to trick or treat alone, you'll want to arm them with additional safety ammo. A kid trick or treating alone should carry a phone, know where they live, and understand the dangers of separating themselves from the group. If your child is separated from you or their group of peers accidentally, they should be comfortable using a backup plan to reunite, such as heading back home or going immediately to a well-lit public location.

Food Safety

• Educate children who have allergies
• Practice identifying foods with known allergens
• Help kids separate Halloween candy

The best part of Halloween night is coming home, unloading the candy, counting the pieces and, of course, indulging. But nothing ruins a fun time more quickly than a dangerous reaction caused by food allergies. This safety tip is often forgotten, but it's extremely important since some allergies can be life-threatening. If your child has food allergies and has received homemade treats without an ingredient list, best to skip this treat. Beware of choking hazards as well since some Halloween goodies can sometimes include small toys or trinkets instead of edible treats. These can be mixed in with candy and accidentally eaten which can lead to choking. This may not be an issue with older children, but with young children, exercise caution. From the team at SOS Survival Products, stay safe and have fun!