Safety First on Halloween

As kids narrow down their remaining costume choices just ahead of Halloween, parents are wise to review safety measures to make the night as fun and spooky-safe as possible.

The smartest tip is to have enough parents to keep track of the kids. Streets, cul-de-sacs, and alleyways can get scary very quickly when it’s dark outside — and Halloween revelers are suddenly nowhere in sight.

Poison Control sees an increase in calls about glow sticks every year around Halloween.

“The more kids you have out trick-or-treating, the more parents we’d like you to have,” police officer Mark Dawson of Plano, Texas, told Dallas-Fort Worth CBS station DFW/CBS. “Go as a group. Stay as a group. I would like the parents to walk up to the houses.”

Bill Wilson of Gallatin, Tennessee, reviews holidays from a safety standpoint as the associate vice president for education and research for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.

“The wise parent goes with younger kids but gives them room — wait in the yard and let them approach the door alone,” he told LifeZette. “Older kids do travel in packs, but it is a generally good idea to have some sort of parental oversight planned ahead of time. For older kids — high-schoolers post-puberty — it’s best to skip the trick-or-treating, as this can make homeowners a bit uneasy.”

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Wilson said a review of the yard and front porch is important prior to the big night.

“Remove furniture and impediments so people can access your door safely,” he said. “Consider imperfections in your yard, too. If there are holes in your yard, identify those and take care of them. Keep your yard in good condition so no one gets hurt accidentally.”

Luminarias (paper bags with candles inside) are visually pleasing and can alert kids to walkways — but Wilson said they are a bad idea for Halloween night. “A child’s costume can drag across one of those bags and catch fire,” he cautioned. “Watch the candles in your pumpkins and any displays as well.”

There is more vandalism in general on Halloween, so make sure to lock all vehicles. Kids can spray whipped cream or break eggs in your car interior — or worse, warned Wilson. “Lock up those vehicles and if possible, park them in the driveway and not on the roadway.”

“Pet safety is important on Halloween, too,” said Wilson. “About one-third of homeowners’ liability claims come from pet incidents like dog bites. Even a dog that’s generally pretty docile can become agitated and spooked when it sees a bunch of kids in costumes gathered on the front porch.”

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In terms of the candy haul — time-honored rules apply. Kids should not eat any candy until a parent checks it. Any fruit or home-made treats are best disposed of, said Wilson.

“It used to be common for parents to hand out candied apples or homemade cookies on Halloween — but sadly, it’s just too dangerous now,” he noted. “Make sure all candy is manufacturer-wrapped. Throw away anything that doesn’t look right.”

In more rural areas, Wilson cautions parents against rigging up any sort of wagon to haul kids around to knock on doors.

“Some will take a wagon and hook it up to a rider mower or garden tractor, and pull the kids around in that to trick-or-treat,” said Wilson. “It’s dangerous. Many homeowner insurance policies will not cover you while you’re hauling kids with a lawn mower. People need to think twice before ever doing that. Golf carts are also not a good idea — too dangerous.”

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Here are some other Halloween safety tips to keep ghosts and goblins safe this year:

1.) Be extra careful if you’re driving.
Bigger vehicles like SUVs can block a driver’s view of some shorter children who may dart across the street as they trick-or-treat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

2.) Glow, baby, glow.
To be sure drivers can see your child, add reflective tape and glow sticks to kids’ costumes. Make sure to tell kids that the liquid inside many glow sticks can be toxic, however. Poison Control says it sees an increase in calls about glow sticks every year around Halloween.

3.) Don’t ‘mask’ your enthusiasm.
Costume masks can make it harder for kids to see. Some safety experts recommend face paint instead of masks.

4.) Take it easy on the black licorice.
The Food and Drug Administration warns against too much black licorice because of a compound called glycyrrhizin found in the candy. This compound — especially for adults older than 50 — can lead to a dangerous drop in potassium levels.

Wilson said that today, new phone apps can also keep kids safe on Halloween. “The Nextdoor.com phone app helps you communicate with your neighbors and others on anything from having a party to suspicious activity,” he told LifeZette.

“During Halloween, this app [a private social neighborhood network] can be used by families to tell others whether you are participating in Halloween by handing out candy. And from the app, parents can even print out a map and visit participating houses only.”