Halloween is a fun, exciting, and of course, candy-filled time for children and young people. And we mustn’t forget the adults—who can resist a good costume party, after all?
But like any holiday when people come out in force to celebrate, Halloween is also a time to pay close attention to safety. By doing so, you can ensure that your ghoulish celebration will be all treats and no tricks (or at least, only harmless ones).
Follow these tips to help keep you and your family safe this Oct. 31.

1. If your older child is trick-or-treating without you, make sure he or she is with a group of friends whom you know and trust. If your child is too young to go without an adult, make sure the group is properly chaperoned by an adult you also know and trust.  

 

2. Ensure that small children know your phone number and address in case they become separated from you and your group. (This is an important safety tip year-round, but it can be especially important on Halloween.)

 

3. Consider putting reflective tape on your child’s costume or trick-or-treat bag to enhance visibility to cars. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pedestrian injuries are the most common Halloween injuries, so making sure your child can both see and be seen is of the utmost importance. Flashlights or glow sticks are another good idea—children enjoy carrying them, and you won’t have to worry that a driver won’t see them.

 

4. By that same token, if at all possible, avoid masks—they can impede a child’s vision. Face paint is safer, plus more comfortable!

 

5. Make sure children know to cross the street only on safe corners, in neighborhoods, or on crosswalks. Stay on sidewalks, or, if no sidewalk is available, on the farthest left edge of the road facing traffic.

 

6. Put down the smartphone—this one is for adults as much as for kids. Don’t walk, and especially don’t cross streets, while looking at your phone. If your child is old enough to have their own smartphone, emphasize the importance of situational awareness and staying alert while out at night.

 

7. Teach children not to cross into the street from between parked cars, or behind cars in a driveway.

 

8. When carving pumpkins, allow young children to help by drawing what they want to carve on the pumpkin. Always have an adult do the actual carving.

 

9. Battery-powered candles, glow sticks, or flashlights are excellent options for lighting your pumpkin. If you can’t do without a real candle, choose votive candles—they’re the safest options.

 

10. If you’re offering treats to trick-or-treaters, make sure your outside lights are functional and bright enough to provide good visibility for children who will be going up and down your stairs or across your porch after dark.

 

11. Make sure your yard and porch are clear of any tripping hazards, like toys, strollers, and hoses.

 

12. Teach children only to knock on doors with porch lights on. They should never enter a home or a car for a treat.

 

13. If you’re a driver on Halloween, drive more slowly than usual and be extra alert for children who may be running across streets, appearing from between parked cars, or traveling in large groups. Use your headlights at all times.

 

14. This one is for the adults: If you’re heading to a Halloween party, whether at a friend’s home or at a public business, make sure you have a plan for getting home should you be unable to drive. Carry cash for a taxi, make arrangements with a friend who will be your designated driver, or even consider hiring a limo or bus, if your group is large enough.

 

15. Finally, make sure that young trick-or-treaters know and are able to call 911 in case of an emergency, including if they get lost.

911 dispatchers and emergency workers work especially hard on holidays, and Halloween is no exception. If KOVA can help your Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) with a public safety software solution, contact us—we’d love to help!