Wishing you a Happy—and SAFE—Halloween

Halloween is an exciting time for kids. Between the costumes, face painting, parties, trick-or-treating and then getting to dig into their treats afterwards, what’s not to like? Of course, parents want to make sure that their kids not only have fun, but that they also stay safe when taking part in all the festivities. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the dangers inherent in Halloween, but the costumes, increased pedestrian traffic after dark, candle-lit jack-o-lanterns, and the possibility of unsafe candy or treats all pose some level of risk.

Fortunately, most of these risks can be managed with a little effort. There is lots of safety information related to Halloween—everything from how to shop for the best costume to the safest kinds of make-up to advice on trick-or-treating safely.

While many families head out in neighborhoods they know well and already take to heart many of these basic practices, a reminder is never a bad thing. So, here we offer just a few safety tips focused on the night of trick-or-treating itself to help make sure this Halloween is a safe one for you and your loved ones:

If you’re expecting to have trick-or-treaters at your house, take some precautions ahead of time:

• Make sure that your front yard and porch are free of any items that children might trip over, such as toys, yard ornaments and tools
• Check to see that your outdoor lights are working
• Restrain any pets so that they don’t jump on, bite or scare trick-or-treaters
• Be careful where you put a lit jack-o-lantern to avoid fires or accidental burns

If you have children who will be trick-or-treating:

• Young children should always be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult
• For older children that head out alone, parents should review their planned route and set a specific time for them to come home
• Only visit homes with a porch light on and never enter the home for a treat
• Be aware of the risk of pedestrian injuries and take steps to avoid them such as:
• Stay in groups
• Walk in well-lit areas and always using the sidewalk
• Avoid cutting across lawns and alleys
• Cross streets only at crosswalks
• Put reflectors on costumes and bags to make yourself more visible to motorists
• Carry a flashlight with you
• Always visually examine the candy and treats to make sure they are safe to eat

Some common sense about safety can go a long ways in making sure this Halloween season is fun for everyone. Whatever activity you’re partaking in this year—and there are a lot in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area—we hope you have fun!