There are a lot of aspects that go into creating the perfect Halloween. You have to pick the right pumpkin for carving the best jack-o-lantern. You have to stock up on bags candy and take your kids costume shopping. Not to mention you still have to rake the leaves, blow up those spooky inflatables and decorate your garage for your homemade haunted house.
With all of the excitement surrounding this candy-coated holiday, it’s understandable when things on your to-do list slip your mind. However, one thing that should always take priority is safety, especially during Halloween. (Let’s not forget that there are treats and tricks.) To help you stay safe this All Hallows Eve, here is Ryan Homes at Brunswick Crossing’s handy safety checklist:
- Your child should always walk—don’t run!—in adult-supervised groups. If you decide that your child is old enough to go trick-or-treating without adult supervision, make sure their cell phone is fully charged and their location is on so you can track their progress without worry.
- Always use sidewalks when walking throughout the neighborhood. If your party has to cross the street, tell your child to look both ways for oncoming traffic. Make sure the street is clear or the driver has seen everyone before you begin crossing.
Pro Tip: Use reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark stickers on your child’s trick-or-treat bag or choose a brightly colored or white costume, so drivers can see everyone cross the street.
- Bring a flashlight since trick-or-treating hours are typically 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Avoid cutting through your neighbors’ lawns. Tell your children to use the driveway and other walkways unless otherwise specified.
- Tell your child to wait until everyone gets home to begin eating their candy so you can examine it thoroughly before they consume it. When you do this, check for any choking hazards or signs of tampering. A good rule of thumb is when in doubt, throw it out.
- If your child wants to explore a neighborhood haunted house, make sure they are supervised.
- Make sure your child’s costume is well-fitted. (Even those cute sheet-ghost costumes shouldn’t be too long.)
- Your kid’s costume should keep them warm throughout the cool fall night. Layer them up with long-sleeve shirts and/or tights underneath their costume. It never hurts to bring a jacket either.
- Check that any helmets, hats or masks do not block your child’s vision or hearing. This will help prevent potential elbow scrapes, bruises and other accidents.
- If your child’s costume comes with sword, wand or staff, it should be flexible, short and unable to harm anyone. Your make-believe knights, fairies and wizards need to stay safe.
- If you decide to use make-up for the full Halloween effect, test the palette on a small patch of your child’s skin, such as the back of their hand, before covering their face. This will help prevent serious allergic reactions.
From make-up mishaps to eerily-wrapped, unconventional treats, there are a lot of ways that Halloween can go downhill fast. To ensure that you and your family have the safest Halloween (while still having fun), make sure you can check off all of the safety tips above before heading out to trick-or-treat.
See that your little ghouls’ and boys’ costumes keep them warm and secure. The candy should be examined in good lighting at home—no boos or howls about it. Lastly, the neighborhood rules should be respected by your little zombies, vampires and princesses. After all is said and done, let the tricks and treats begin!
