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Halloween; it's fun, it's scary and it's all about frightful things that go bump in the night. It is a holiday that is filled with laughter and the happy screams of those who were spooked by the occasional Halloween decoration.
Unfortunately, Halloween isn't always fun and over the years, there has been an increase in the number of injuries and risks involved with Halloween. We have heard all the horror stories; spiked Halloween candy, eye injuries caused by flying eggs, and needles in candy apples. Although there have been cases of all of these, the incidents are significantly low compared to the major risk for children on Halloween night; children are four times more likely to be involved in a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident on Halloween.
Before you decide that you will stay in for the night, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that your children have a safe and happy Halloween.
Preparation:
It's not just the Scouts that should adhere to the rule "Be Prepared," since this is an excellent motto to live by. Before your children are completely wrapped up into the whole Halloween excitement, take them out and remind them of a few rules.
1. They should never go out by themselves. Make sure your children are accompanied with at least one adult or a responsible teenager when they go, even if they seem old enough to navigate the streets without you.
2. Remind them about traffic safety. Enforce crossing at crosswalks and not weaving back and forth from either side of the road. Also remind them both on the night and before about how to cross the street.
3. Refresh them on their manners. Don't push and cram against other children on the way to the house. I find this is one of the hardest to enforce since most children do not believe it when you say, "There will still be candy when you get up there, don't worry."
Preparing your children for the night's activities will go a long way in preventing some of the more significant injuries.
Be Bright:
Now I know this is Halloween and chances are you won't be lighting up like a Christmas tree but in the effort to stay safe, you will want to have a bit of light on costumes that are typically dark in coloring. Have your child carry a flashlight to not only find his or her way but to also alert drivers that there are children present.
Reflectors on costumes are also a great idea and there are many different lights, reflectors and glow sticks that you can adorn a child's costume with.
While you are getting your children all situated, make sure you don't forget yourself. Bring a flashlight of your own and attach a glow stick on your coat for reflection.
Lastly, stay in brightly lit areas and only visit houses that have a light on outside.
Keep the Costumes Neat:
Falls are often a common occurrence on Halloween night and the greatest cause of this, besides the rushing from one house to the next, are the long and oversized costumes. Try to find one that fits securely and tie or pin up any costumes that drag on the ground.
Try to pick a costume without a mask since masks often reduce visibility for the child. Face paint can create some pretty amazing affects and it is much safer.
Check the Candy, Twice:
I'm sure you have been there many times, trudging through the streets while the kids ask for candy from their bag. It can get a little hectic having to say no after every house but a great trick to combat this is to fill your pockets with a few pieces of candy from home. This way, the kids can have a few treats as they walk and you will be able to hold off checking the candy in the dark.
When you get home, go through all of the candy before the kids can eat any of them. Throw away any homemade treats like candy apples and cookies, or any treats that have been home wrapped such as jelly worms in a sandwich bag. Any packages that are torn or opened should also be discarded and any candy that has small holes in the wrappers should also be tossed. Sometimes it may seem like you are throwing a lot of candy away but there will still be enough to give a stomach ache or two for lasting childhood memories.
If you aren't sure about checking some of the candy, make a stop off at your local hospital. Many now offer an x-ray service on Halloween night to keep all children safe.
With these few tips, you should be able to enjoy a fun and safe Halloween with the only frightening thing being the little ghouls running around yelling, "Trick or Treat."
Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on Halloween topics including Halloween crafts for Savvy Halloween.
