Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Halloween can be great fun. Kids love being able to dress up and get free candy. With only 2 weeks until Halloween,  I decided to check in with Kathy Waeckerle, Des Peres Hospital's ER director, for some trick-or-treating safety tips you can review with your children.


Choosing A Costume

• When shopping for costumes, check to make certain the material is flame retardant
• Make sure the costume doesn't obscure vision. Masks and hoods can make it hard to see. Non-toxic face paints are a much better choice.
• If your child will wear a hat, check to see that it won’t slip down over the eyes.
• Wear something that reflects light. You can add reflective tape to your costume and treat bag so that drivers can see you. Carry a flashlight to light your way. You can even find one to match your costume!
• Make sure the costume isn’t too long to prevent tripping.
• If your child is carrying props like a sword, knife or scythe, check to see that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury.

Fun With Friends

• Younger children should always have a responsible adult or older teenager with them while they trick or treat.
• Older children and teens should go in groups.
• Make sure your children understand the rules of Halloween safety. Develop a game plan and agree on the rules ahead of time.
• If older children are going out without an adult, make sure they understand the difference between vandalism and tricks.

Plan Ahead

• Plan the route and decide with your child what time they should be home.
• Make sure your children know to only visit the houses of people you know and where an outside light is on. If the light is off, they are probably away from home or not giving out candy.

Safety First

• Remind children to not go inside a house to accept candy.
• Don't stand too close to a lighted candle – especially in a jack o’lantern. Your costume might catch fire.
• Whether walking, using your super powers or flying a broom, watch out for traffic. Stay on the sidewalks. Cross only at intersections. Don’t cross or hide between parked cars. Look both ways before crossing the street.
• Don’t cut across alleys or yards.
• Have one of your parents or a responsible adult check your candy before eating it. Throw any open packages or homemade treats away.
• If you have younger brothers, sisters, cousins or friends, don’t give them small or hard candies that can choke them.

Specific Tips for Parents

• Children often want to help carve the pumpkin, but little fingers and sharp objects don’t mix. Let your children draw the face on the pumpkin while you handle the carving. Your children may enjoy cleaning out the pumpkin and saving the seeds to bake for a snack.
• You may want to find an alternative to door-to-door trick or treating such as going to a mall or community event. You also may want to host a special Halloween party for your children and their friends.
• Make your home safe for those little treaters. There are special lights that mimic a candle for jack o’lanterns. If you do use a candle, keep the pumpkin on a sturdy surface away from where the children are likely to stand. Don’t leave a burning candle unattended.
• Teach your children that Halloween is about fun. Throwing eggs at a house or car or even toilet-papering trees can be considered acts of vandalism