It’s Halloween, and if your child or teen is going out trick or treating tonight, safety should be a top concern. Here are tips for parents for costume, trick or treating and candy to ensure your family has a fun (and safe) evening!

Costumes:

• Make sure that the costume is fireproof
• If the costume has a mask, the eye holes should be large enough that they allow for good peripheral vision
• Costumes should fit and be short enough to prevent tripping or falling.
• Swords or knives with costumes should be soft and flexible
• If the costume uses makeup, test the makeup on a small patch of skin beforehand to make sure there aren’t any allergic reactions

Trick or Treating

• Discuss with your child or teen the importance of being alert and aware of their surroundings. They should never go in to a stranger’s house, or get into an unknown car.
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult. If your teen is going out with friends, set a curfew for them to be home, find out who they are going with, and ask them to carry a cell phone.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags so they are visible to drivers
• Carry a flashlight and walk from house to house

Candy

• Ask your child not to snack on the way, ask them to wait until they get home so you can inspect the candy
• Look through your child’s candy before you let them eat it, to check for choking hazards or candy that has been tampered with
• Throw away any unwrapped or open treats, anything not in its original wrapper and anything homemade
• If you think your child has eaten something that has made him or her sick, call the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.