Halloween Safety Tips for Your Family

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Don’t get tricked this Halloween. Follow these tips and tricks from Mom with a PREP for a safe and fun candy night.

I was a child of the seventies when it came to trick or treating. The stories spread fast and wide about people putting razor blades and needles into candy, and the only recourse was to take it to a hospital to have it x-rayed to ensure the safety of those who partook of the sweet stuff.

Little did I know that this would still be a thing when I finally had kids, and we ventured out to do more than the church’s fall festival.

Every year, the festival is visited, then we visited a few houses in the neighborhood, then came home to dump all the candy out in piles on the floor for Mom and Dad to inspect…just in case some bad guy did something bad to the candy.

I’m pretty certain this was started by a really smart Mom or Dad who just wanted to get a chance to see what candies were picked up and call dibs on the really good stuff 😉

But in all seriousness, there are some good guidelines and tips to keep you and your family safe during the biggest Candy Night of them all!

Halloween Safety Tips

Costumes

Make sure costumes don’t impede vision or effect walking
Use makeup to create a mask to be on the safer side
Trip costume in reflective tape to catch the light of passing vehicles
Carry flashlights ( I really do love these mini Cree lights that are sturdy yet small enough for wee hands and give great light) or good glow sticks to light your way. You might want to wrap a cord around their wrist to attach the flashlight or glowstick to, or attach it to their bag. Just don’t make it long enough to be a tripping hazard.
Use fewer props – make sure props are not rigid and that they don’t bind the kids up when walking.

Trick or Treating

Plan the route in advance and never walk alone – trick or treating is best when done in packs!
Stay visible to child and door if you are allowing children to approach a door alone
Use proper Trick or Treating etiquette – only approach well lit front doors that have a porch light turned on welcoming goblins.
Never enter a home to receive candy unless accompanied by a responsible adult – that goes for you, too, kids!
Carry an extra bag to dump candy into when kids’ bags become cumbersome.
Be sure to check the sex offender database in your area to plan accordingly.
Always peek out your door before answering, especially if you are in an area without houses close by

Further reading: 10 Basic Safety Tips for Women

Decorations

Use flame-less candles in carved pumpkins and other decorations to reduce fire hazard
Remove obstacles from lawn and steps to keep pathways clear – poor lighting and impaired vision from costumes make this a safety hazard

The Candy

And by all means, check the candy. Check the candy for…

Candy that can be allergy triggering
Hazardous objects and choking hazards
The kind you love best and create a secret stash!

Alternatives to neighborhood trick or treating

Carnivals held by churches and civic organizations
Malls or shopping areas
Block parties
Buy your favorite candies and have a class monster movie marathon with family and friends.