Making the Masquerade Safe: Tips to Ensure that Halloween is a Happy Scream

Do the footwork to keep everyone safe before everyone sets out on this All Hallows Eve.

This time of year is fanciful and frightening, but it can easily turn into a real-life nightmare if we don’t take precautions. Pedestrian accidents are common with kids in dark costumes crisscrossing the streets, and adult revelers can easily get out of hand and cause trouble.

In order to keep our fears where they should be in the realm of zombies, ghosts and aliens, follow some basic guidelines to take the worry out of this most macabre of holidays.

1. Go bright! If the kids have dark costumes on, insist they wear something reflective, wear a headlamp or carry flashlights or glow sticks.
2. Think practically when it comes to costumes. Don’t put your kid in a giant hamburger costume that prohibits movement just because it’s funny. Be reasonable about an outfit that travels well, stays comfortable, and is non-toxic and non-flammable.
3. Stay in the burbs. It used to be that all neighborhoods were fair game for trick-or-treaters, but now it has become a little more organized and many retail districts create a kid-friendly environment to encourage foot traffic. Choose a place that doesn’t have a ton of through traffic to minimize the risk of careless drivers.
4. Always accompany young kids. Even in very safe neighborhoods, small kids can get lost, they can get overwhelmed by all the other kids and plus they are still at the age where they want you to be there.
5. Older kids need to know the rules. If they are old enough to venture out on their own as a group, go over the rules with them. They need to devise a route, stick together, only knock on houses with porch lights on and never go inside a house or a car to get candy. For these purposes, it’s not a bad idea to lend one of them a cell phone in the event that you need to check in. Also, trick-or-treating should be relegated to the middleschoolers, teens need to graduate an leave the candy for the younger ones.
6. No pranks. Speaking of teens who have outgrown trick-or-treating, make sure they have some other way of celebrating: a party, a scary movie, a haunted house or a concert. This will ensure they don’t egg you neighbors’ cars. Impress on adolescents (and adults) the importance of practicing good-spirited fun.
7. Practice fire safety. Sometimes October presents a significant fire hazard. Unless the first rains have fallen, everything is dry and highly flammable, so make sure your jack-o-lanterns are secure and on a non-flammable surface like concrete, brick or stone. If you have a party, you can avoid open flame altogether by getting some of those neat battery operated candles and decorations, and just in case, have a functional fire extinguisher handy.

Halloween is a time of spooky mystery, creativity, hilarity and indulgence! It should be that way. Parents can take the necessary precautions to prevent anyone from getting hurt and missing out on the fun. There are lots of ways to celebrate, including events at amusement parks, museums and local farms, so branch out and create some new Halloween traditions!