Ask the Expert: How Can I Keep My Kids Safe on Halloween?

By Cindy Magnole, R.N., BSN

Each Halloween, children look forward to dressing up as their favorite character or scary monster and hitting the streets to trick-or-treat. It is one of the most exciting holidays of the year – but it can also be the most dangerous.

It is important for parents to take some basic precautions to ensure that their children have a fun and safe night out. The Miami-Dade County Injury Prevention Coalition at Jackson Health System has some suggestions to make sure your Halloween is full of memories, not regrets.

• Make sure your children understand the importance of walking on the sidewalk while trick-or-treating.
• Pick costumes that are bright or reflective, and carry a flashlight or lighted glow stick, which are visible to motorists. Never use candles, as they are fire hazards.
• To prevent falls, avoid wearing costumes that drag and shoes with high heels.
• Look for costumes and wigs that are flame-resistant. Avoid masks as they may obstruct vision; use non-toxic makeup instead.
• When accessorizing your costume with items such as swords, canes, or sticks, only use those that are made of soft material, not hard plastic, which can cause injuries.
• All children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating.
• For younger children, secure emergency contact information on their Halloween costumes. Include your name, home phone number, address, and cell phone number.
• If your kids are old enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, map out a route and make sure they carry a cell phone in case they need to call home for any reason.
• Never trick-or-treat alone. There is safety in numbers.
• Choose neighborhoods with well-lit streets where other families will be trick-or-treating. Malls and organized street festivals are other safe places to go trick-or-treating.
• Remind your children to walk, not run, from house-to-house and cross the street at the corner after looking both ways.
• Make sure children know never to enter a stranger’s home or car to get their treats – no exceptions.
• Inspect all candy carefully. Any candy that is suspicious, appears old, or has an open wrapper should be thrown in the garbage.
• Be careful with hard round candies and jawbreakers, which can be a choking hazard for younger children.

Make sure your children know these very important ground rules before heading out for Halloween fun.

It is also important for adults to avoid giving out candy with peanuts, as many people have peanut allergies. Additionally, leave dogs at home because costumes may scare them and cause them to bite, and take special care when driving, as there will be many excited children out on the streets.

For more information on Halloween safety or general safety tips, visit www.JacksonHealth.org and search Halloween tips.

Cindy Magnole is the injury prevention coordinator at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a longtime registered nurse. She is chair of the Miami-Dade County Injury Prevention Coalition and an executive board member of the Miami Dade Drowning Prevention Coalition. Cindy can be contacted at [email protected].