Easy Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Americans love Halloween and have made this late fall holiday second only to Christmas in popularity. As I watch the leaves turn red and gold outside my study window in early October, it seems like a good time to review some basic Halloween safety. I've put together a few tips about costume and candy safety that I hope will make Halloween both safe and fun for you and your family.

Costumes

Today's Halloween costumes are more elaborate than ever. No matter how your child dresses up for Halloween - be it as the Silver Surfer of Fantastic Four lore or Elizabeth Swann of Pirates of the Caribbean - there are several key safety features to consider.

Topping the list of safety features is the use of flame retardant material. Candles are always popular at Halloween - either inside a pumpkin or simply as an exposed flame - and fire retardant material can be your child's best friend. A fire-retardant costume is much less likely to catch fire if your child accidentally brushes against a candle or other open flame.

Next, no Halloween costume is truly complete without reflective tape. Strips of reflective tape make it much easier for passing motorists to see your child in a car's headlights. If your child's costume doesn't have reflective tape, you can upgrade the costume inexpensively by purchasing reflective tape at a nearby hardware store and applying it yourself.

Last but not least, sew or glue a name tag or other label to the inside of your child's costume. Make sure to include key information like your child's name and address, as well as a phone number where you can be reached if your child becomes lost or separated from you or your group.

Candy

It's both a sad and disturbing comment about the society we live in that many hospitals will now X-ray Halloween candy for free on Halloween night. While incidents of poisoned candy or candy laced with dangerous objects are rare, your child's health and safety are too important to leave to chance.

Make it very clear to your child that he or she should not eat any candy until you personally inspect it. When you do inspect candy, make sure that wrappers are intact. If a wrapper is torn, or there is any other any evidence that a piece of candy has been unwrapped and then re-wrapped, don't hesitate to throw the candy away.

One way to ensure your child's candy is safe is to get involved in the Halloween experience on a more personal level. Instead of allowing your children to trick-or-treat at the homes of strangers, drive your children to the homes of people you know and trust, where they can collect candy from relatives and friends. Another option is to take your kids to a Halloween party at the home of a friend or neighbor. Or, throw a Halloween party for your kids and their friends in the safety of your very own home.

Conclusion

Costumes and candy are important elements of a safe and fun Halloween. Following the tips above and researching additional topics on your own - traffic safety is one of several good examples - will help ensure many years of happy Halloweens for you and your children.