Halloween is one of the most fun holidays for children. It gives them a chance to break away from their “every day self” to become their favorite princess, super hero or cartoon character for the night. Through all the fun and games, Halloween is also known to have the potential of becoming one of the most injurious holidays. Most of these injuries are preventable, so before heading out to Halloween parties and trick or treating this season, be sure your children have taken all the safety measures possible!

• Children should never carve pumpkins on their own. Have them participate by drawing the face they want on the pumpkin and have an adult do the cutting. 

• Avoid lighting your pumpkin with a candle. Instead use a flashlight or battery-operated candle to avoid a potential fire in the home. 

• When choosing a costume, be sure all parts are flame resistant. 

• Before leaving the house, be sure your child’s costume is equipped with reflective stickers or attachments and that they are carrying a flashlight or glow sticks, so that cars can see them better when crossing the street. 

• Be sure your child’s costume is not obstructing their view of the road and that it is free of tripping hazards. 

• Always accompany your children when trick or treating. No matter how friendly the neighborhood, children should never be out without adult supervision.

• Be sure to always cross the street at corners and on crosswalks. Though it may be tempting for children to run from house to house, they must still adhere to the rules of the road to avoid potential hazards. 

• When crossing the street, you and your children should avoid looking at any electronic devices, and always look left, right, left before stepping out into the street. 

• Always walk on the sidewalk and stay on well-lit streets. If there is no sidewalk, be sure to walk facing traffic, with your children on the inside of the road. 

• Walk pass driveways and parking lots slowly and carefully in case cars are entering or exiting. 

• Have an emergency plan set up with your child before leaving the house and be sure your child is familiar with calling 911 in case of an emergency.

• When returning home, be sure to check your child’s candy before allowing them to eat any.

• If you child has a food allergy, be sure to read all labels to ensure it is free of any hazardous ingredients to them. 

• Ration your child’s treats to avoid them consuming too much sugar and potentially becoming ill. Ψ