Halloween safety tips for parents & kids

While Halloween can be lots of fun for the whole family, there are a few things to think about for a safe and enjoyable Halloween. Surveys have found that Halloween comes with a heightened risk of injury and even death, particularly for children, who may engage in risky behaviors, wear dangerous costumes, or not pay attention when trick-or-treating in the dark.

While we can’t control what everyone else around us does, there are plenty of steps we can take as parents and caregivers to ensure the safety of children and neighbors this Halloween. To make Halloween a success, it’s essential to prioritize safety as kids go door-to-door. Here are a few of our Halloween safety tips for kids and adults to ensure everyone has a great night.

Halloween safety tips for parents

As parents, it’s our job to prepare our kids for a safe and successful Halloween trick-or-treating evening. This means discussing and implementing these Halloween safety tips for kids before trick-or-treating begins.

Communication and setting boundaries to minimize risk are the best tips for Halloween safety. Here are a few ways parents can approach this discussion with their kids.

Before trick-or-treating

Before trick-or-treating, choose costumes without masks that can impair breathing or vision. Be sure that clothing isn’t baggy to prevent tripping.

Start the evening by having a conversation with your kids about the expectations for trick-or-treating safety. Younger children should always be supervised and only go out with a trusted adult. Child trackers may be clipped to clothing if those are available. Or consider writing emergency contact information on their arm or a wristband should they become separated from the rest of the family.

Older children should have directions for their trick-or-treating route, which they will be walking with, and what time they are expected to return home. This may also include checking in with parents periodically throughout the evening.

During trick-or-treating

One of the most important Halloween safety tips for kids is to teach them to be particularly aware of their surroundings when trick-or-treating. Going out in groups is essential, whether it’s a neighborhood pod or a handful of young kids with parental supervision.

In the evening, kids should be supervised at all times, especially when they go up to the doors of houses and cross streets. Supplying them with a flashlight, glowstick, or reflective tape is a good safety practice to ensure they are seen in the dark.

Teach children never to go inside a stranger’s home on Halloween or any other night of the year. Instruct them to use crosswalks when crossing the street. And remind them not to approach pets, who may be particularly on edge due to the excitement of the evening.

After trick-or-treating

Halloween safety tips also apply after children have returned home. Kids are always excited to dive into their candy collection right away, but it’s a good idea to go through their haul together before anything is consumed.

Checking for damaged candy is one of the most essential tips for Halloween safety. Discarding pieces that have been opened is a crucial preventive practice in case the candy has been tampered with.

Certain types of candy may be unsafe for younger children because of their texture or shape. Jaw-breakers or other round candy, as well as super chewy candy, should not be given to young children, as these candies can be a choking hazard.

Make your home safe for trick-or-treaters

Halloween safety also applies if you’re handing out candy, as you want everyone to feel safe and comfortable when they come to your door. When kids arrive for trick-or-treating, there are things you can do to offer a safe and fun experience for everyone involved.

Be mindful of allergies

Nut allergies are prominent. Many kids are also allergic to ingredients like chocolate or milk. Some kids have food sensitivities to gluten or other ingredients, so they may be more particular about the candy they are allowed to have.

If you incorporate candy with ingredients that are common allergens, you may also have a separate bucket of candy free from common allergens.

Some families place a teal-colored pumpkin (real or fake) on their doorstep on Halloween to indicate they are an allergy-friendly stop. Neighborhood sites often share maps with allergy-friendly homes highlighted to make them easier to find.

Create a candy chute

This trend became popular during the pandemic, allowing children to have Halloween fun while also socially distancing themselves. It is a great option if you plan on being away from home on Halloween but still want to participate in handing out candy to the neighborhood kids.

Some families have gotten creative, using anything from PVC pipes to homemade catapults to transport candy from their doorstep to children’s bags without touching it. Another idea is to create a candy “graveyard” on the front lawn, where children can grab candy as they pass by rather than approaching the door.

Provide well-lit paths and doors

Most of the time spent trick-or-treating is in the dark. Help families find your door by keeping it well-lit. Limit Halloween decorations in the path between the street and your front door. While you may want the front yard to be dark for a creepy vibe, having lights that line the pathway can help prevent falls.

Keep your pets and trick-or-treaters safe

Halloween pet safety is important for your animals and trick-or-treaters. Pets can become anxious with the constant ringing of the doorbell and unexpected guests coming to the door all night.

If that is the case, consider putting your pet in a quiet room or crate away from the front door. Or keep them on a leash so you can control them when you open the door. If your animal is extremely anxious or may become aggressive with strangers, consider boarding them for the evening to ensure a safe Halloween for everyone.

Use trick-or-treater-friendly outdoor decorations

While Halloween decorations can be fun and spooky, they can also pose a hazard to trick-or-treaters. Choose items that do not have trip hazards, such as electrical cords, and avoid items with sharp edges.

Consider light-up decorations near pathways so they can be seen by trick-or-treaters rather than keeping them too dark and spooky.

Jack-O-Lantern safety tips

While light-up Jack-O-Lanterns look fun on Halloween night and add to the mood, using real candles can pose a fire hazard. Consider using glow sticks or battery-powered tea lights instead.

Also, don’t carve your Jack-O-Lanterns too far in advance as they tend to mold quickly, sometimes in just a day or two! Rotten pumpkin flesh may cause a slipping hazard if left out too long on a front porch.

Alternatives to traditional trick-or-treating

Going door to door isn’t the only way to celebrate Halloween. It may not even be an option, depending on where you live. If you prefer an alternative to trick-or-treating, host a Halloween gathering during the day or look for a trunk or treat in your community.

Trunk or treat is where communities or organizations will go to parking lots and decorate the trunks of their cars to pass out candy. If your child is sick, you can always have a scary movie night or get creative and make each room in your house a trick-or-treat stop.

Halloween safety tips for adults

Many adults love Halloween festivities just as much as children do, but they also need to stay safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips for adults celebrating the holiday.

Prepare before you go out

Preparation is the best way to avoid potential Halloween risks. Have a plan, including what route your family will take for trick-or-treating or festivities, as well as a start and end time. Take a flashlight and phone with you as you go around the neighborhood.

If you won’t be home while others are trick-or-treating, you may also want to place a bucket of candy on your front porch, leave the light on and make sure your door is locked.

Celebrate at home

If you’re not keen on the idea of leaving the house this Halloween, you can offer the alternative of celebrating at home. A Halloween house party can be just as fun as heading out to trick-or-treat, especially if you don’t have kids. But since there are so many kids out that night, avoid driving if you’re planning to consume alcohol.

Be careful while driving

Accidents on the road are common on Halloween, so it is essential to stay vigilant while driving through neighborhoods or truck or treat parking lots.

There’s a lot of distraction in communities, particularly children running around from home to home. If you do need to drive that night, drive slowly. Keep an eye on the roads and practice safety by keeping children out of the street.

Urgent care is open on Halloween

Concerned about Halloween safety? Don’t worry; there are several urgent care centers open in case your family needs assistance. We’re equipped to treat a wide range of non-emergency injuries and illnesses, no matter what happens that night.

If you need help assessing and treating an injury or accident, see the experts at an urgent care center near you. You can walk in without an appointment or save your spot online. We’ll have you back to feeling better in no time.

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Written by Sarah Thebarge, Physician Assistant