TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A SAFE HALLOWEEN

Wed October 23, 2013

A good scare can be fun on Halloween, but not when it comes to child safety. A scary but true fact is that children are more likely to get hit by a car, and receive candy that has been tampered with, while out trick or treating. The DuPage County Health Department offers the following safety tips to help your family have a safe and fun Halloween.

Taking the following precautions can make your child more visible to cars when they are out and about trick or treating.

  • Make children visible to cars by decorating costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child's vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup instead.
  • Have children trick or treat with flashlights or glow sticks to make them visible at night.
  • Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. Remind older children that trick or treat without an adult to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
  • Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
  • Make sure your child's costume fits to prevent trips and falls.

Before your child digs in to their bag of candy, parents should inspect every piece to make sure it is safe to ingest. The following treats should be discarded:

  • All unwrapped or partially unwrapped treats
  • Any food that looks homemade
  • Any treats that appear to be stale or spoiled
  • Packages that have puncture holes
  • Contact your local police department if you suspect tampering with any candy.

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