As we approach the end of October, most of us have only one thing on our mind, Halloween. The delicious treats, creative costumes, haunted houses, and the ghoulish decorations are all that most of us can think about.
Often because of all of these amazing activities, we’re too preoccupied with the preparation for Halloween that we forget to prepare ourselves for the busy evening. With so many people out and about in the streets – often not paying attention due to all of the excitement- the risk for kids being involved in an accident can increase.
We encourage you to plan your Halloween ahead and practice some of these safety tips.
Trick or treating on foot
- Look both ways when you’re crossing a street, and be alert for any cars or traffic that may be out. They may not always be paying attention to you, so be cautious. Seems obvious, but if you look around, you’ll see how often people forget this simple thing.
- Don’t use your electronics while you’re walking. You don’t want your head to be down and your focus to be away from what’s around you whether it’s on the street or the sidewalk.
- Adhere to all traffic regulations, including crosswalks and traffic signals at intersections. It may seem easier just to cross at certain points, but if there are crosswalks nearby, it’s better to utilize those instead.
Be alert while trick or treating
- Children under the age of 12 should have adult supervision while out trick-or-treating.
- Try to stick in a group. You’ll be able to keep tabs on everyone you know much easier.
- Try to go to areas that you’re familiar with rather than exploring unknown neighbourhoods. You’ll decrease the risk of getting lost that way.
Preparing for trick or treating
- If your child is going without you this Halloween, talk to them about only approaching clearly lit homes. Homes that are not lit suggest that homeowners are not in, or that it’s not a “Halloween friendly” place.
- Decorate your costumes with some reflective tape, glow sticks or something that makes you visible to cars and others at night.
- If you’re travelling with a pet this Halloween, make sure that their costume is free of small pieces which may be a choking hazard.
After trick or treating
- Don’t eat your candy until you have fully inspected it. Although most items are usually safe, it’s a good practice to look through treats, especially when they’re homemade.
- If you have a furry friend, make sure to do your candy inspection in another room or area where they cannot get to. We want to protect them and keep candy out of their reach.
For those who aren’t trick or treating
- Drive with caution! It’s especially dangerous to be driving around on Halloween night, with all the costumed kids, in poorly visible conditions. Aim to be extra cautious and to be very visible. Pay special attention to crosswalks or areas that people tend to cross as costumes can sometimes be harder to see at night.
- Plan to add more time when driving to your destination. Be extra cautious of turns, and driveways in residential areas.
If you haven’t decided on what costume you or your kids are going to wear, check out our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Halloween “Boxtume” ideas that include instructions on how to make a moose and a lego block costume.
We hope that these safety tips are helpful reminders, and most importantly, we hope that you have a happy and spooky Halloween!