Halloween Safety – Potential Hazards For Trick-or-Treaters

My sisters and I were horrified at the sight of her legs. They were completely scared, reddish in color, and quite frightening to look at. When my two sisters and I were very young my parents invited a family to sleep over one night. The three of us slept in the same large bedroom where the visiting family’s daughter, joined us that evening. As we undressed to put on our pajamas we couldn’t help but notice her legs. It turned out that one Halloween she was dressed in her costume and ready to go out trick-or-treating when she accidentally backed into a the end table in the foyer where a Halloween candle was burning. Her costume caught on fire and the lower half of her body was badly burned.

Although Halloween is my favorite time of year but it was never quite the same after that night. We never saw the girl again but we also never forgot the lesson learned from that experience. But, being careful around candles is just one element of safety for Halloween night.

Pranks, accidents and illegal acts of crime, are all part of Halloween but we can still have fun by taking a few precautions to keep ourselves, our children and our pets safe. The above is a little story from my childhood experiences that left and everlasting effect on me and it still keeps me aware of how easily and quickly good things can go bad.

Here are a few safety tips that all of us can use to keep safe this Halloween:

Visibility:

Reflective Tape – visit your local hardware store, bicycle shop or sporting goods store and purchase some reflective tape that can be applied to your child’s costume and trick-or-treat bag.

Flashlights – be sure each child has a flashlight with fresh batteries to help guide them along dark walks and let other trick-or-treaters know where they are.

Masks – some masks may block your child’s vision and may restrict his or her ability to breathe properly. Consider applying a cosmetic mask. Children love playing with mom’s makeup so this is the perfect opportunity to let them paint their face with their own cosmetics. If your child has skin sensitivity, consider non-toxic or hypoallergenic makeup.

Home Owners – be sure to provide a clear, easy-to-follow path to your door and remove anything on the steps and porches that may be a hazard to the children.

Road Safety – children should walk, not run, between houses, stay on the sidewalk if there is one, and be careful when walking between parked cars. The proper way to walk on streets without sidewalks is to walk towards oncoming traffic.

Ask them to stay away from alleys and use walks instead of cutting across lawns where it could be difficult to see hazards along the way.

Fire:

Jack-o’-Lanterns – if you are using candles in your outdoor jack-o’-lanterns, please place them out of the path of your trick-or-treaters. Set them high enough that costumes or other clothing can’t come in contact with the flames. Don’t place candles near drapes and take caution that the bottom of your candle holder isn’t getting too hot. Your local fire department can instruct parents on the “Stop-Drop-Roll” principle if a child’s costume should catch fire.

Injuries:

Sprained or twisted ankles and head injuries are common on Halloween. A short costume will help ensure that your child won’t trip and fall. Shoes should be flat, comfortable and sturdy and should fit properly on any child walking from house to house on Halloween.

Costume Accessories – such as swords, wands, knives, guns, bow and arrow sets, and other weapon-type accessories can be dangerous if the child is not old enough to play with them responsibly. Children should be aware of the dangers of these seemingly harmless toys. They could easily poke out another child’s eye or even their own. Give them a few constructive lessons on how to have fun but play safely with all of their costume accessories.

Strangers:

Instruct your child never to enter a stranger’s home for candy or any other reason. Although the home may be in your own neighborhood, it doesn’t mean its safe. Unless you are accompanying them along the route, please ask them to walk away from any home where they are asked to come inside, especially if they don’t personally know the occupants.

Safety in Numbers:

Stick Together – groups provide more safety for children when trick-or-treating. Make sure they stay with their group at all times.

Cell phones – one child in the group should have a cell phone in case an emergency arises. They should know their own home phone number and how to dial 911 if necessary.

Tainted Treats

Ask your child to wait until he or she gets home before eating the treats they’ve collected. Be sure to inspect all of the treats before being consumed by you or your child. History has proven that there are malicious folks out there that take advantage of times like Halloween to harm others. Why take chances.

For Halloween Costume ideas please click the links in my Authors section below.

Child Bratz Cat Costume is selling like hot cakes for Halloween 2009. The selection for hot Halloween costumes in 2009 is awesome. There are several cat costumes to choose from but the Bratz Cat Halloween Costume is rocking off the shelves at record speed this year.

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