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Costume safety
Safety tips while trick or treating
Costume safety
Deciding what to be for Halloween is when the fun begins. Children, along with their parents, start planning their costumes many weeks in advance, giving special attention to all of the gory details. While children are most concerned about the appearance of their costume, a parent's job is to be certain that the costume is safe.
When planning your child's Halloween costume, consider the following safety tips:
- Buy or use only non-flammable costume fabrics. Look for the "flame-resistant" label when purchasing costumes, wigs or masks.
- Costumes should be short enough that children will not trip or fall over them. Children get very excited when they start trick or treating. A sure way to end the evening early is with an unexpected fall, resulting from a child tripping over a costume that is too long or cumbersome.
- Shoes should be comfortable and well-fitting. High heels or oversized shoes are not a good idea, no matter how much they complement a child's Halloween costume.
- Avoid masks whenever possible. If your child does wear a mask, be sure the eyeholes are large enough not to obstruct the child's vision. Face paint (a type that is non-toxic and hypoallergenic) is a better choice for ensuring good visibility.
- Trim costumes and goody bags with reflective tape so that your child is clearly seen by passing motorists. Reflective tape can be bought at most hardware or sporting goods stores. Consider hanging fluorescent "glo-lites" on the front and back of your young child's costume. This way you can keep track of them in the dark and make them visible to motorists.
- Do not allow children to ride their bicycles when trick or treating. Costumes can easily get hung up in the bike parts.
Safety tips while trick or treating
Outdoor trick or treating is a long-standing tradition in many families. Children love to show off their costumes and collect goodies, and adults have just as much fun interacting with the kids.
Don't risk a Halloween catastrophe. Before allowing your child to go trick or treating, take the necessary time to go over important safety rules. Keep in mind the following when discussing safe trick or treating with your child:
- An adult should always be with a young child trick or treating. If you allow an older child to go out without an adult, be certain that he/she will be traveling in a group with at least one or two other children.
- Plan the route you and your child will take, and, if necessary, set a time limit for your children to trick or treat. Older children should only be permitted to trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods.
- Carry a cell phone and flashlight with you while trick or treating.
- Instruct children only to accept treats at the doorway and never go inside the home of a stranger. If a house is not lit up, do not visit it.
- Always cross the street at an intersection or crosswalk, and be sure to look both ways before crossing.
- Instruct your child not to eat any treats until an adult has had a chance to inspect them. Feed your child dinner before going trick or treating so they will not be as tempted to sample their goodies before returning home.
- When inspecting your child's treat bag, discard any unwrapped or homemade treats. Be careful with fruit. Check it closely for punctures or pinholes, and cut it open before your child eats it. If you suspect any tainted candy, call 911.
- Some local hospitals will x-ray a child's treat bag to check for metal objects.
- Be sure that the path to your home is cleared of wet leaves, unsecured electrical cords and other tripping hazards.
- Remind your children to be especially cautious of strangers and to always say "thank you" when they receive a treat.
- Be careful if you are driving a vehicle on Halloween. Excited children often dart into traffic, and they may be difficult to see especially if they are dressed in dark costumes.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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