Tips and tricks for a safe Halloween

A princess, a superhero, a monster, or a ghost. No matter what you’re child has chosen to don on Halloween this year, as a parent safety is a top priority. Here’s a list of the top ten safety tips for you and your child this holiday:

1. Choose bright costumes- plan costumes with your child that are bright colors or add reflective tape to costumes and bags or carry a flashlight to make children more visible to drivers
2. Avoid baggy costumes- choose a costume that fits and avoid large mask that may prevent your child from being fully aware of his or her surroundings
3. Flame resistance- while shopping, choose costumes that are labeled “flame resistant”
4. Always test makeup- test makeup on a small area of skin before applying to larger areas to know how skin will react to the product; remove it before children go to bed to avoid skin and eye irritation
5. Safety with accessories- swords, knives or similar accessories should be short, soft and flexible to avoid injury
6. Accompany your child- escort your child whenever possible or create a trick-or-treat-plan with older children outlying where they can go; assure older children are always in a group and at least one person in the group has a cell phone
7. Know your neighborhood- only visit homes that are well lit, remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk; if a sidewalk is not available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic and always look both ways when crossing the street
8. Do not enter a home- do not allow children to enter any home unless you accompany them
9. Examine all treats- check treats for choking hazards and tampering before allowing a child to eat them; never accept a treat if it is unwrapped or looks as if it has been opened
10. Make a clear path- when passing out candy, make sure your home is well lit and has a clear path to the entrance to avoid tripping trick-or-treaters

These tips were compiled form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.