13 Tips for a Safe Halloween

With Halloween approaching, many families are gearing up for a night of fun and fright. If you’re a parent with young children make sure to factor extra safety when it comes to planning for Halloween night.

It pays to be extra careful. Twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween than on any other night of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing childhood injuries.
The following safety tips come from Scripps pediatricians and cover costume and traffic safety, adult supervision and emergency instructions for young children.

Be careful with Halloween costumes
1. Make sure that Halloween costumes don't drag on the ground and become tripping hazards. Hats should fit well enough so they don’t slide over the eyes.

2. Avoid costumes with masks no matter how cool they may look because they can block your vision and increase the likelihood of falls or traffic accidents. Instead use non-toxic face paint or makeup to create a finished look.

3. If your child is carrying a prop, such as a sword, cane or pitchfork, make sure it can be easily identified as fake and that any points or sharp edges are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury.

4. Make sure costumes are flame resistant.

Be cautious walking and crossing street
5. Give your child a flashlight or a glow stick to carry while out at night for greater visibility. Light-colored costumes are encouraged. On dark-colored costumes, use reflective tape so drivers can see your child at night.

Encourage safe walking. “Always walk on sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and move as far to the left as possible,” says Olga Rose, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad.

"If you have to cross the street, do not go in between parked cars where a driver may not be able to see you in time to stop. Instead walk to a corner where there is a traffic sign or a crosswalk, put down any electronic device and look both ways before crossing," Dr. Rose says.

6. With a young child, pin a slip of paper with his or her name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group of trick-or-treaters.

“When possible, review with your child how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency,” says Annemarie Selaya, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Hillcrest.

7. For older children, ask where they’re going and establish a return time.

Keep a close eye on candy consumption
8. Insist that only factory-wrapped treats can be eaten. Examine all treats, especially any that could be a potential choking hazard, before your children begin snacking.

9. Be careful with homemade treats they might bring back, such as cupcakes and brownies, unless you know the cook well. "When in doubt, throw it out," Dr. Selaya says.

10. Limit the amount of treats your child eats by preparing a healthy meal before he or she goes out on Halloween.

“You can also limit their candy consumption to three to five of their favorites that night to prevent a bad stomach ache and constipation from developing,” says Matilda Remba, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Clinic Mission Valley.

11. Limit the amount of treats your child eats by donating extra candy to a charity.
“Have your children pick out the candy they love and give away the rest to a charity, such as Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages to soldiers deployed overseas and to first responders serving here at home,” says Shaun Berger, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Clinic Rancho San Diego.

The East County clinic is accepting leftover Halloween candy, non-candy toys and healthy snacks through Nov. 7 in support of Operation Gratitude. Pediatricians at other Scripps Clinic offices are also participating in the program.

Be careful around the house too

12. Small children shouldn’t be allowed to use sharp objects to carve pumpkins, but they can still have fun using markers to decorate. Parents should always do the cutting.

13. If you’re planning to turn your home into a haunted house, play it safe and make sure your steps, sidewalks, porches and paths are well lit. Make sure to put your pets away. You don’t want to see them get frightened and bite a trick-or-treater or run away.

If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are placed away from the walkway so kids' costumes don’t catch fire. “Better yet, use a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle. If you prefer using a candle, a votive candle is safest,” Dr. Selaya says.

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