Halloween Safety Tips

For parents and children

October 2023; By Samantha Talsma; Outreach Coordinator

Halloween in Montana can be unpredictable- who knows whether it will be snowing, and our kids need to wear their costumes over snow suits, or it may be a perfectly clear night and 60 degrees. Whatever the weather will be, it’s important to keep our little ghouls and monsters safe while out trick-or-treating this Halloween.

Costume Safety

When choosing a costume, it’s important to consider a few factors:

• Make sure that your child’s costume is appropriate for the unpredictable weather.
• Avoid tripping or falling hazards by making sure you child’s costume is the right size.
• Avoid costumes that my block your child’s vision such as masks, wigs, or oversized hats.
• To avoid potential allergic reactions, test costume make-up or face paint on a small area of skin prior to applying full face makeup.

Be Seen and Walk Safely

Ensuring that your kids are visible, especially around motorists, is one of the most important things to prepare for before they leave the house. You can achieve this by doing some of the following:

• When choosing a costume, avoid dark colors. Instead, favor bright, and light colored costumes.
• Add reflective stickers or tape to costumes and bags.
• Give your kids glow sticks or flashlights to carry with them.
• Trick-or-treat with a large group; this makes it much easier to be seen, especially when crossing streets
• Remind your children the rules of the road: here are some important rules of the road, that every child should know

Have a Plan

Kids are known to be mischievous and curious. Consider the following steps when preparing for a safe night of trick-or-treating.

• If you feel like your child is too young to go out alone, plan for a trusted adult to accompany them.
• If you are OK with your child going out without supervision, remember that there is safety in numbers. Encourage them to trick or treat with a group of friends, classmates, or other children in your neighborhood.
• set a route: draw a map with clear boundaries and show your children where they are allowed to go. Emphasize the importance of sticking to the planned route.
• Set a curfew: Establish a time for when you expect your children to return home , and set reminders on their phone or watch.
• Remind your kids to never enter the home of a stranger even if they live in the same neighborhood as them.
• Remember, that if a house doesn’t look like they’re participating in Halloween festivities, then it should be skipped.

Treat Safety

Every child knows that the best part of Halloween is indulging in all of the amazing treats and candy collected throughout the night. With the chance that sweet treats have been exposed to allergens and other dangerous factors, it’s crucial to remind our children of the following:

• Don’t eat candy while out trick-or-treating.
• Never accept a treat that appears to be homemade.
• Never eat candy that hasn’t been inspected by a parent or guardian first.

Parents, remember to inspect all treats that are brought home. Look for packaging that has been tampered with, and anything that your child may be allergic to. If you suspect either of these, discard that treat immediately.

By following these safety precautions, you and your little witch, zombie, ninja, or ghoul are sure to have a spooktacular and safe Halloween.