5 Safety Tips for Halloween

The medical professionals at Complete Care are here to share some great safety tips for Halloween so that you and your children can have a bewitching night of fun and fright (but hopefully not too much fright)!

Halloween is such an enjoyable and exciting holiday for children. Dressing up in costumes, collecting candy, and looking at fun yet spooky decorations just make this time of year so special. Although All Hallow’s Eve brings about many treats, your night can easily turn into fright if you and your children are not following these safety precautions. 

What are the safety rules for kids on Halloween? 

• No crossing the street without an adult
• Have a plan for injuries and accidents
• Do not enter strangers’ homes 
• Have a schedule
• Limit candy consumption
• Check for any allergens or irritants in your kid’s costume
• Carefully supervise any pumpkin carving

Let’s go over each rule in greater detail. 

1. Establish trick-or-treat rules with your little ghouls

Before heading out the door, have a chat with your children about some safety ground rules to adhere to as they trick-or-treat.

No crossing the street without an adult

Traffic accidents are, unfortunately, a common problem on Halloween. With children constantly crossing the street in large numbers, injuries from an accident can be severe when cars are involved. Be sure to teach your children to look both ways before crossing the street, hold hands with an adult, and proceed with caution.

Alert a parent or adult if you get hurt

Because trick-or-treating primarily takes place during the nighttime, the darkness can set the scene for some unfortunate mishaps. With Halloween decorations on the ground, large groups of children running from house to house, and more, it’s very possible that your kid could slip, trip, fall, etc. If you’re not present as they trick-or-treat, tell them to let an adult know as soon as an injury happens. 

For example, if a cut won’t stop bleeding or they don’t feel well, someone should be able to alert you. Have them memorize your phone number or write it down on a piece of paper for them. You can also put a sticker on their candy bag just in case! This will ensure that your child is not alone, hurt, and scared. 

Don’t wander off by yourself

It’s not uncommon for children to wander away from their trick-or-treat group in pursuit of more candy. However, this could lead to incredibly dangerous situations if your child is wandering around the neighborhood on their own. Implement a buddy system so that your kiddo is never alone or be sure that they stay by your side at all times. If they want to move on to the next house, they can simply ask for permission and someone (likely yourself) will accompany them.

Don’t go into anyone’s home without a parent’s permission

There are some cases where a neighbor might invite a group of trick-or-treaters in for some spooky lemonade or if they are hosting a haunted house! It’s not uncommon, but it’s still important that your child asks for permission to enter anyone’s house, especially if it is a neighbor you are not familiar with. Even if they are asking to go into a friend’s house, be sure you know where they are at all times.

2. Stick to trick-or-treating hours to avoid scary situations

They say nothing good ever happens at night…and tonight, they might be right! Try not to let your kiddos stay out too late past trick-or-treating hours. Every city or suburb may have its own set hours, but for the most part, trick-or-treating hours are between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. 

While Halloween during the evening is typically for kids, Halloween at nighttime is usually when the adults come out. You don’t want to put your child in an uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situation. It’s also important to stick to their usual bedtime routine as well so that they’re not overtired the next day for school. 

3. Limit your little creature’s candy consumption

Let’s be honest with ourselves, kids only really get excited about Halloween for the massive candy haul they will accumulate at the end of the night. And even though we all tried to eat our entire stash in one night when we were kids, we know now what comes after the inevitable sugar crash. Eating too much candy can result in your child getting sick and may create a night of horrors for both you and your child.

Signs of excess sugar intake include:

• Headaches
• Irritability 
• Fatigue and difficulty concentrating 
• Feeling jittery or anxious
• Feeling shaky or dizzy
• Excessive bloating 

Eating too much sugar can also hurt their sleep quality. Chocolate in particular is a stimulant that can keep them up for hours if they consume too much before bed. So, before they rip into that treasure trove of sweets, tell your child that they can have a certain amount of candy tonight and save the rest for the upcoming days. They, and their stomachs, will thank you.

4. Avoid Halloween costume horrors

Dressing up is one of the best parts of Halloween. And while homemade costumes are always a hit, they can be a lot of work! Store-bought Halloween costumes and cosmetics can be a great option for trick-or-treaters who want to be a specific character or creature for Halloween. However, they need to be bought from the right places and inspected thoroughly before your child wears them. 

Many Halloween costumes and makeup are mass-produced using cheap, low-quality materials that may cause itchiness, rashes, or other types of allergic reactions. This can be an issue if they will be wearing this costume for hours on end. 

Before your child commits to a costume, check out the materials to make sure they are safe. If their costume requires more extreme accessories, such as colored contact lenses, check online for reputable and safe contact lenses for Halloween. 

Keep reading: How do I know if my child’s rash is serious?

5. Practice proper pumpkin carving etiquette

Halloween just wouldn’t be Halloween without carving a Jack-O-Lantern or two! If you plan on hacking into pumpkins with your little ones, be sure to read our blog on pumpkin carving safety. The tips presented in this blog include:

• Using a pumpkin carving kit — not your sharp kitchen knives
• Keeping your pumpkin as dry as possible to avoid accidental slips
• Keeping a well-lit workspace 
• And making sure an adult handles the sharp objects for the little ones

If an accident were to occur during your pumpkin carving party, Complete Care is always here to make even the scariest situations a little easier on you and your family. 

No emergency is too scary for Complete Care

We hope that you enjoy and practice our safety tips for Halloween this year! As long as you and your little ones are being cautious and safe, no goblin, ghost, or ghoul will be able to scare you this Halloween! 

All of our emergency rooms are open 24/7, mainly because our staff is comprised of vampires who don’t need to sleep. We have multiple locations in Texas (Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Lubbock, and San Antonio) and in Colorado Springs. No matter what tricks you face this All Hallow’s Eve, we’re here to keep you safe and the magic alive!

More Helpful Articles by Complete Care:

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• When to Go to the ER for Bronchitis
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• Common Gymnastics Injuries and How to Prevent Them
• When to Visit the ER for Severe Asthma Symptoms