ENGLISH I ESPAÑOL

The kick-off of October officially marks the start of some kids’ and adults’ favorite fall activities. This includes venturing into spooky haunted houses, navigating the twists and turns of a corn maze, carving a hand-picked pumpkin, and of course, all the excitement and preparation that goes into the big event – trick-or-treating on Halloween. While you and your kids are both eager to get out the door this year, it’s important to consider what safety measures should be taken for your family.

As a parent, it’s important to be aware of some very real dangers that exist while trick-or-treating. But don’t be scared, be prepared! As you’re picking out costumes and getting your candy bucket ready, here are a few tips for you to consider adding to your checklist to make sure your kids have a safe and happy Halloween.

Costume Safety 101

• Stay away from decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an eye doctor. While fun contacts may seem like a costume essential to your child, decorative lenses purchased without a prescription may not fit properly.
  Poor-fitting contact lenses make their eyes more susceptible to scratches or getting an open sore on their cornea (the clear covering over the front of the eye).

• Make sure costumes fit well and are trick-or-treat ready. When checking their costume, here are a few things to keep in mind:
  • Masks and other face accessories may obstruct their vision,; if so, find an alternative option or switch to make-up or face paint.
  • Check that there are no loose materials that may trip them when walking.
  • All accessories should be short, soft (for example, made of plastic or foam) and flexible.

• Test all Halloween makeup ahead of time. Try a small amount of make-up on your child’s arm to see how they react. This way, if they have an allergic reaction, it doesn’t occur after putting it all over their face.

Planning for Food Allergies for Trick-or-Treating

• Buy a stash of safe candy for your child. With all the excitement surrounding trick-or-treating, children with allergies may feel left out when they see other kids eating candy that they can’t have. Here are some ideas to help you navigate managing allergies on Halloween:
  • Have safe candy or non-food treats at home, that way there are plenty of options that you can “trade”.
  • Prepare some goodie bags that your neighbors can hand out to your child. Be sure to stop by ahead of time to drop the bags off and let them know what costume your child will be wearing.
  • Bring some fun snacks with you while trick-or-treating so there’s always a safe option on hand.
• Be sure to pack two epinephrine auto-injectors in your go-bag in case of emergency (if prescribed).
• Check out more ideas from the Teal Pumpkin Project, an initiative started by Food Allergy Research and Education, to provide non-food treats such as stickers, school supplies, and small toys, to kids with allergies.

Prepare Your Kids Before They Leave

• Institute a “no snacking rule” so you can check your child’s candy before they dig in. You might consider sending them with a “snack stash” that has a few of their favorites, which will give them a safe alternative to have on the go.
• Encourage your child not to accept or eat any candy that isn’t pre-wrapped.
• Prepare a light meal before the big event. This puts something in their stomach to help them resist the temptation to snack on unchecked candy.
• Make a trick-or-treating game plan. Map out your route with your child ahead of time so you both know what to expect and what to do if you get separated.
• Pack a go-bag of essentials. Check out the CDC’s Trick-or-Treat Checklist to make sure you have everything you and your child may need.

Street Smart-ies

According to the Children’s Safety Network, Halloween is the most dangerous day of the year for child pedestrians, with twice as many fatalities than any other day of the year. While you may have already gone over how to safely cross the road, giving your child a refresher is the best way to make sure they’re able to safely navigate from house to house.

• Adults should accompany children ages 12 and under. Children over the age of 12 should go in groups and stick to familiar areas.
• Always cross at street corners, using traffic lights and crosswalks.
• Look both ways before crossing and make eye contact with the driver to make sure they see you.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible or on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
• Give your child a flashlight or glow stick to help them see and to help drivers see them.

Checking Your Child’s Candy

• If your child has allergies, check every ingredient label, every time. Snack-size or bite-size candy bars sometimes have different ingredients than their full-size counterpart. Be sure you’re checking labels every year in case the ingredients have changed.
• Check for and throw out tampered or unsafe candy. Look out for:
  • Unusual appearance or discoloration
  • Tiny holes or tears in the wrapper
  • Unwrapped candy
  • Homemade or personally wrapped items (unless you know who gave them out)
• When in doubt, throw the candy out.
• Remove any choking hazards such as gum, hard candy, peanuts and small toys for very young children.

Helpful Resources for Halloween Safety

• CDC Happy Hauntings: 13 Tips for a Healthy Halloween
• CDC Halloween Rules of the Road
• Food Safety Halloween Treats: Better Safe Than Scary
• Safe Kids Worldwide Halloween Safety Tips
• Children’s Safety Network Halloween Safety
• FARE How to Be Food Allergy Safe This Halloween
• FARE Allergy Safe Tips for Trick-or-Treating