Halloween Safety Tips
As Halloween approaches, we’re all starting to make (or finalize, for the keener ones) our Halloween plans. And while Halloween is a fun holiday, with loads of room for creativity and excitement, it’s also a good time to reflect on some safety precautions, so that this fun night doesn’t turn into a real-life horror movie.
Caution When Driving on Halloween Night
One of the biggest parts of Halloween is trick-or-treating, something that kids of all ages look forward to for days or weeks. However, there are more children run over by vehicles on Halloween than any other night in the year. So, if you’re driving, make sure to go slowly and pay special attention to the road. Be aware that children will be wearing costumes that might not be super visible in the dark, and be especially careful that there are no stragglers from the groups.
High-Visibility Clothing
As a parent, it’s a good idea to incorporate some high-visibility clothing into your child’s costume, even if it’s just a few small bits. You might be going with them, but you know better than anyone how quick kids can be in giving you the slip, whether purposely or not.
Brief Children on Safety
Make sure your children are well versed in the rules of the road. If you’re not going trick or treating with them yourself, give them a buddy system among their friends or siblings, and remind them of stranger danger. And going back to those costumes – not all costumes, or parts of costumes, are as easy to move in as their regular clothes. Even a flapping cape, or a long sheet for a ghost, could trip a child running across the road. Make sure those costumes are properly fitted, and that any loose parts don’t become a hindrance.
House Safety
Finally, don’t neglect house safety. Make sure pets are inside; they could become overwhelmed and aggressive with so many people around, especially if there are fireworks. Be careful of decorations, making sure not to overload electrical sockets or to put too many heavy decorations in an area where extra weight won’t be supported. And hopefully, it goes without saying, but if you’re hosting a party, make sure no underage guests get hold of alcohol, and order a few taxis at the end of the night if there aren’t enough designated drivers.
But above all, have fun! Halloween only comes once a year, and there’s a reason it’s such a popular holiday for people of all ages.
Did we miss any Halloween safety tips? Tell us what precautions you take in the comments section below.