Halloween safety tips
| Healthy You | Kids Health | Safety
Celebrate Halloween safely with ghosts and ghouls.
Celebrating Halloween safely should be at the top of everyone’s to do list – higher than the point on their witch’s hat. Whether your Halloween plans include escorting your little ghosts and goblins on their trick-or-treating adventures. Or if you’re attending a ghoulishly great costume party that’s just for the grown-ups. Dressing safely and acting carefully is key.
Some of the more common dangers to watch out for during Halloween festivities include:
- Injuries to the eye from sharp objects.
- Trips and falls due to ill-fitting costumes.
- Car accidents involving pedestrians.
“The combination of small children, darkness and adults who are drinking is always a concern for us in the emergency department,” says Jason Hanley, MD, a PeaceHealth emergency physician. “Use flashlights or glow sticks so you can see better and — more importantly — be seen by drivers, and please be extra careful when crossing streets, and absolutely do not drink and drive.”
Consider extra supervision for the kiddos while they're out trick-or-treating. Be aware of where they are and what they're doing.
Drivers also need to expect that there will be more kids out on the sidewalks and neighborhood streets.
PeaceHealth providers support taking the following precautions, as recommended by Safe Kids Worldwide, for a safe and fun-filled Halloween for all ages:
- Be smart: Costumes should be the right size to prevent trips and falls. If possible, choose light-colored materials to stand out at night. Use non-toxic makeup instead of wearing masks that can block vision.
- Be seen: Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.
- Be safe: Children younger than age 12 should not be out at night without adult supervision. Older children should trick-or-treat in familiar, well-lit areas.
- Be alert: Popular trick-or-treating hours on Halloween are from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., so drivers should be especially alert for kids during those hours.
- Be warm: If the weather is cold or rainy, consider adding a jacket on top of the kids’ costume. Bonus points if you can incorporate a warm or dry layer into their Halloween look.
