7 Halloween Safety Tips
Out of all the holidays we celebrate throughout the year, Halloween is one that offers a lot of fun but also comes with the most dangers. We all want to have a good time, especially our children but we need to take necessary precautions to keep everyone safe and to avoid fatal accidents. Don’t worry, we have you covered! The following safety tips are easy to implement and will ensure a secure night without dampening the fun to be had.
Costume Advice
Most Halloween festivities take place in the evening like trick-or-treating and we all need to take extra steps to see and, more importantly, we need to be seen. Many costumes are made in darker colors which blend into the shadows. The best way to take care of that is to incorporate as many reflective components of the garment. This can be done by purchasing or making outfits with lighter reflective fabrics and you can also attach reflective tape and stickers to the costumes and treat bags.
When costume shopping, consider pairing them with makeup, wigs, and hats instead of a mask. Masks tend to obstruct the wearer’s vision and can entice suspicion in public areas. Also, when choosing a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. Also, if a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if they stumble or trip. Additionally, do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and prescription from your eye care professional.
Flashlights
Carrying flashlights and glow sticks will also help everyone see and be seen by drivers and other trick-or-treaters. Smaller options are available that last long, can comfortably hang from a wrist or belt loop and have a powerful shine. Gifting kids flashlights is a great alternative to candy and will help them have a safer night.
Enforce rules for trick-or-treaters going out alone
Before we go any further, please note children under the age of 12 should not go out alone at night without adult supervision. For kids 12 and older mature enough to go trick-or-treating on their own, it’s important to have them stick to a planned route in familiar areas that are well lit with a group you know. In addition, common safety rules apply like have a flashlight, a charged cell phone, never enter a stranger’s home or car, walk and don’t run, look both ways before crossing the street and use crosswalks. Also, tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home for proper inspection.
Cross roads safely
Trick-or-treaters make drivers nervous and we must be more alert and cautious of them, especially when a big group is in tow. So, always walk on sidewalks and paths or if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Make sure to cross streets at visible corners with traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep checking as you go. That means put electronic devices down and walk, don’t run. Furthermore, teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them, watch for cars that are turning or backing up and never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Be aware of decoration hazards and precautions
The last thing we want to worry about is a fiasco caused by Halloween decorations and haunted houses. Small children should never carve pumpkins. We suggest allowing them to draw a face with markers and parents can do the cutting. The potential for slippery surfaces, electrical issues, fires, and food poisoning raise significantly Halloween night. Make sure all liquids are in a controlled setting, circuit boards are not being challenged and only serve fresh treats and drinks and store them. Use faux candles, flashlights or glow sticks to light jack-o-lanterns and similar fixtures which should be placed on a sturdy table away from curtains and other flammable objects and not on a porch or path where pass closely.
Inspect treats
The most important tip for Halloween is to inspect all candy collected. Throw away all homemade treats and fruit, anything open, damaged or discolored and if something seems suspicious, trash it. Note, this can only be successfully done if everyone waits until inspection before eating anything.
We hope these tips don’t spook anyone into hiding and missing Halloween all-together. With this advice in your back pocket, the family will be safe and the only worry to be had is who can collect the most candy, which leads us to our very last tip: don’t eat too much candy! South Coast Property Management, Inc. wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween.