As children start planning their Halloween costume ideas, parents focus on the safety aspects of the annual candy-gathering festivities. According to the National Safety Council, the risk of children dying from being struck by an automobile more than doubles on Halloween night.
Traffic incidents are only one scary Halloween concern; parents also must be diligent about checking candy and reminding children never to trick-or-treat alone. Before they gather up all the treats this year, parents should instill these 10 scary good Halloween safety tips for children.
Table of Contents:
How to Check Halloween Candy
About the Buddy System
Don't Pull These Traffic Tricks
Halloween Pranks Have Scary (and Real) Consequences
Here's How to Check Halloween Candy
In the 1980s, there was concern about poisoned or tampered candy. The legend of this potential hazard grew to such incredible proportions that checking candy became a standard parental practice. Is toxic and poisoned candy a myth, an urban legend, or a real concern?
According to the History Channel, poisoned Halloween candy isn't a fable, but the actual incidence of true poisonings is rare. History Channel cited the work of sociologists Joel Best and Gerald T. Horiuchi. They found that "Many, if not most, reports of Halloween sadism are of questionable authenticity."
This doesn't mean that parents should not be vigilant about food safety. For example, open candy should be discarded. Parents also might toss out fruits and homemade baked goods. Some children have food allergies, and any unwrapped items do not include ingredients that pose a risk.
The hidden needle or razor blade might be more urban legend than a frequent finding. To ensure that all items collected during Halloween are safe, parents can empty their child's candy on a table and inspect individual items for wrapper holes or other signs of tampering. It's never a bad idea to be overly safe.
About the Buddy System: Always Trick-or-Treat in a Group
Group outings help amplify individual safety. Children who lament that they are "too old" to trick-or-treat with parents should NOT venture into the night alone. Instead, parents should insist that older children always enjoy Halloween with a group of friends.
Ideally, parents should mandate that the group meets up for the night at one home and then end the night together at another location (where an adult is present). Children should not leave alone, and parents should ensure that all children in the group leave the meet-up area with a trusted adult.
Don't Pull These Traffic Tricks
The buddy system helps older children stay safe on Halloween night. However, traffic deaths for children soar on Halloween. With the night's chaos and the excitement of the festivities, some children do not follow the common safety rules of the road. Remember these five simple rules for street and car safety:
Wear a reflective patch or clothing. This helps drivers see trick-or-treaters.
Look both ways before crossing the street. NEVER run out into any street without looking both ways first.
Stick to the sidewalks. Never walk in an open street. Instead, stick to walking paths and sidewalks.
Use a flashlight. Like reflective clothing, a flashlight acts as a visual warning to drivers.
Buckle up. When driving from house to house, the seat belt is still mandatory. Do not let children ride in a car without using proper safety restraints.
Halloween Pranks Have Scary Consequences
While tossing toilet paper around a neighbor's yard, egging cars, or smashing mailboxes might seem like silly fun for Devil's Night or Halloween mischief, these seemingly harmless pranks can lead to big trouble for kids and teens. Trespassing or damaging property can be prosecutable crimes. Don't let the spirit of a spooky holiday lead to a scary criminal record. Treat property and people with kindness. Otherwise, the evening could be spent talking to a local police officer.
Some pranks also can lead to hurting another person. While injuries might be unintentional, they could have serious consequences for the victim and the prankster.
Be Safe this Halloween!
Eureka Fire Protection District wants all Eureka families to have a safe and fun Halloween. Remember to follow our important safety tips, and have a Happy Halloween!
About the Author:
Eureka Fire Protection District is an EMS, Fire, and Rescue service provider located in Eureka, Missouri. Staffed with nearly one hundred volunteer and career Paramedics, EMTs, Firefighters, Junior Firefighters, and administrative teams, the department provides its local community with fire prevention, education, safety resources, and emergency relief. Eureka Fire Protection District maintains a reputation as a well-run, high-performing fire department by keeping up to date with the latest in life-saving training and technology.