As your family prepares for the fun tradition of trick-or-treating, keep in mind these easy Halloween safety tips, from the CHOC community education team and Safe Kids Orange County, to ensure your celebration is filled with treats instead of tricks.
Above all, remember that the busiest trick-or-treating hours are in the evenings during rush hour, so use an abundance of caution in residential neighborhoods that will see heavy foot traffic. Children are excited on this day and can move in unpredictable ways, and are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween as on any other day of the year.
Costume safety
- Planning a fun and creative costume can be one of the most exciting parts of Halloween for children. Wear costumes that are bright and reflective, or add reflective material to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for extra visibility. Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are an appropriate length to prevent tripping.
- Masks can block eyesight, so consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats to take your costume to the next level instead. Hats should fit properly and not slip down and cover the eyes.
- Avoid decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and prescription from an eye care professional. Some packaging may claim this is unnecessary and they are a “one size fits all” product, these products can cause pain, inflammation and other serious eye disorders.
Drive safely
- Drive with full headlights on in order to spot kids from as far away as possible.
- Spend an extra moment at intersections to scan for kids who could be in medians or stepping off curbs. Use extra caution and drive slowly when entering or exiting driveways and alleyways.
- Although you may see the children, keep in mind their costumes may unfortunately limit their visibility and they may not see you as well as you see them, or at all.
- Never text or use your phone while driving.
Other safety reminders
- Teach children how to call 9-1-1- in the event of an emergency or if they become lost.
- Children and guardians should both carry flashlights and/or glow sticks to increase visibility.
- Double-check the candy your child receives before they sample any treats. Ensure the items are properly sealed and there are no holes in the packaging.
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Safety Resources from the Pediatric Experts at CHOC
For more important tips to prevent injuries in children and teens, visit choc.org/safety.
