Halloween Safety Tips

Tips for Buying Safe Costumes

• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
• Avoid using decorative contact lenses. These have been known to cause serious eye injuries.
• Be sure masks, costumes and shoes fit well to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
• Buy flame resistant costumes. Look for the label Flame Resistant on costumes, masks, beards, and wigs. Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicated the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. Avoid costumes made with flimsy materials, big baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
• Look for non-toxic designations when choosing Halloween makeup.

Tips for Trick-or-Treating

• While you are walking your kids from house to house, please be sure your kids can be seen. Only trick-or-treat on well-lit streets and near houses with lights on.
• Use a flashlight and always have kids walk, not run.
• Be sure your kids have reflective items on their costumes and bags so any passing car can see them.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
• Never enter homes, visit dark house or accept rides from strangers.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries.
• Predators can be lurking anywhere so never let your kids out of your sight.
• Before you go out, please visit  www.FamilyWatchDog.us. Check out the neighborhoods you will be visiting and be sure to know which houses you should avoid.
• Check your children's candy. Never eat of let your kids eat any candy until you have inspected it. Unwrapped or homemade items should not be eaten and avoid anything that looks old, worn, or looks like it's been tampered with.
• For young children, remove choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
• Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone in case of an emergency.
• Notify law enforcement authorities immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Tips for Safe Decorations

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers then adults can do the cutting.
• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Keep candle-lit jack-o'-lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.

Tips for Your House

• Don't give out candy at your front door. Opening your door to strangers (especially those in costumes and masks) isn't safe. Sit in your driveway or on your porch and hand out candy there. This way you can see what's going on around you. Don't forget to keep all your doors and windows closed and locked.
• Keep the lights on. Be sure your house, porch and driveway are well lit. This if for your safety and for the safety of the children trick-or-treating.
• Be careful with cords on the ground. The last thing you want is a lawsuit from someone who tripped over a cord you had across your lawn or driveway to those awesome Halloween decorations.
• Be sure to remove anything someone could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.

These tips are from Andrew Wooten, and SAFE: Andrew taught for 27 years. He was a consultant and instructor for the National Associatoin of Realtors and authored two books: "A Safety Guide for Open Houses, Listing Appointments & Vacant Proeprties" & "The Real Estate Guide to Safety".  His mission is now our mission: to teach everyone how to live, work and play more safely. To learn more about Andrew Wooten and SAFE, or to purchase Andrew's books,  please visit Just Be Safe.