A quick Halloween safety checklist

  • Published
  • By Keeping Kids Safe, Inc.
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Halloween can be a great opportunity for family fun if you follow these simple safety rules: 

Be familiar with the neighborhood you trick or treat in. 

Make sure your child's costume can be easily seen at night. Decorate it with reflective tape so motorists and others can easily see them. 

Avoid having the child wear a mask with their costume or make sure the mask allows them to have a complete field of vision. Most masks limit the child's ability to see well and could be a factor in causing them to trip or run into low objects. If using face paint, make sure it is nontoxic and hypoallergenic. 

Carry a flashlight and a set of fresh batteries. 

If you approach a house or property and hear a dog barking continue with caution or just pass it by and go to the next house. 

Kids like to choose their own costumes. Make sure you inspect them before they put them on for pins or sharp tags. 

Knives, swords and other props should be made of a flexible material, so that they don't pose a hazard if fallen on. 

Children should be well supervised by an adult when trick-or-treating. Older children should trick-or-treat in large groups in well known neighborhoods. Avoid taking shortcuts across backyards or alleys and stick to the sidewalks of well-lit streets. 

Instruct your children to bring all candy home before eating it so that you can carefully inspect it for tampering. Children shouldn't snack while they're out trick-or-treating, before parents have a chance to inspect the goodies. To help prevent children from munching, give them a snack or light meal before they go. Don't send them out on an empty stomach. 

Tell children not to accept and, especially, not to eat anything that isn't commercially wrapped. 

Parents of young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys. 

Wash all fresh fruit thoroughly, inspect it for holes, including small punctures, and cut it open before allowing children to eat it. 

Prepare the home for trick-or-treaters by removing obstacles from the front yard, restraining dogs and other animals, and lighting the house well. 

Artificial lights and candles are a safer alternative to real candles with a flame that can pose a fire hazard. 

If you're going to an adult Halloween party, make sure that you don't drink and drive. Use a designated driver if alcohol is being consumed.