Don’t Be Scared—Halloween Safety Tips for Kids

Halloween is always a favorite holiday for kids—on what other day can you dress up as your favorite character and ask for free candy? While there’s lots of fun to be had on Halloween, there are some potential safety concerns as well. At One Community Health, we want to help all Sacramento kids stay safe this Halloween. Follow these safety tips to make sure the holiday stays full of treats instead of tricks. 

Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Although traditional trick-or-treating may be a bit different again this year due to the pandemic, there are still lots of ways for kids to celebrate Halloween. “Candy crawls” at local shopping malls, school Halloween parades, and “truck-or-treating” in parking lots all give kids options for trick-or-treating if walking around the neighborhood is a no-go. 
Wherever you go, follow these trick-or-treating safety tips: 

• Kids 12 and under should always be accompanied by an adult while trick-or-treating. If older kids go alone, make sure they are in a group and have a planned route. Ask them to text or call at determined times to check-in so you know they’re safe. 
• If you’re taking a small child out to trick or treat, pin a tag with their name, your name, and your phone number to the inside of the costume in case they get separated from you.
• Trick-or-treating and electronic devices do not mix. Texting or posting to Instagram keeps eyes down rather than up looking where children are walking or at upcoming traffic. And earphones block the sounds of vehicles and can be distracting. Unless a child needs to check in with a parent, leave cell phones and earphones at home. 
• According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are at double the risk of being hit by a car on Halloween. If you’re trick-or-treating in a neighborhood or parking lot, always walk—don’t run!—on sidewalks, crosswalks, and other designated paths. Remind your kids to look both ways before crossing a street or parking lot. 
• If you’re going out at night, make sure everyone in your party has working flashlights and/or glow sticks. You can also place reflective tape on costumes and accessories to help with visibility.

Costume Safety Tips

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $3.3 billion on Halloween costumes this year. When it comes time to dress up your little ones as their favorite hero or villain, here are some tips to make sure their costumes are safe: 

• If purchasing a costume from a store, look for a “flame retardant” label. If you’re making your own costume, select fabrics and other materials that will not burn. This goes for accessories, masks, and wigs, too!
• Make sure the costumes fit correctly. Hold a dress rehearsal to ensure your child won’t trip or have issues moving in their costume, and make alterations as needed. 
• Masks can make it hard for kids to see—consider using non-toxic make-up or face paints instead. 
• Wigs should fit properly and not obscure the vision by hanging over the eyes. 
• If you use any make-up or face paints, make sure to remove them thoroughly before bedtime. Leaving heavy make-up on overnight could lead to skin irritations or get in their eyes.

Halloween Candy Safety Tips

Last year, consumers spent about $2.6 billion purchasing Halloween candy to give out to trick-or-treaters. That’s a lot of sugar! Here are some safe Halloween tips for all those treats:

• Do not allow your trick-or-treaters to indulge until after you’ve returned home. This will give you the opportunity to check the candy for any open wrappers or potentially unsafe pieces.
• Make sure to avoid any treats that may trigger food allergies. 
• Establish guidelines on how much of their Halloween bounty can be eaten on Halloween and what to save for the rest of the week. Too much candy can lead to all sorts of ghoulish problems, from cavities to upset stomachs. 

Safe Halloween Tips

Need to schedule a flu shot for your child this fall? Call to speak to one of our providers in the Sacramento area today at 916-443-3299 or visit onecommunityhealth.com. 
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