Halloween is a time for spooky fun, but it is important to keep safety top of mind as your children participate in activities such as carving pumpkins or trick-or-treating. Use these safety tips below to have a safe and 'spook'-tacular Halloween!
Decorating safety
-
Do not allow small children, especially below the age of nine, to carve pumpkins alone.
-
Put away the kitchen knife when carving pumpkins as they are not safe for children and can be difficult to control. Instead, opt for a pumpkin carving kit designed for children!
-
Use battery-operated flameless candles, flashlights or glow sticks in place of actual candles to use as decorations or to light your jack-o-lanterns.
-
Never leave candles or candle-lit objects unattended or on the porch next to your home.
Costumes
-
Try to choose light colors when out trick-or-treating for children so that they are more visible to vehicles.
-
Use reflective tape on costumes or bags for better visibility while trick-or-treating.
-
Avoid using masks that can obstruct a child’s vision. Instead, opt for face paint!
-
Make sure costumes are the correct size to prevent tripping and falling.
-
Avoid carrying sharp objects or long swords, as children can hurt themselves if they fall or can be struck accidentally among large crowds.
Walking Safely
-
All children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult when out trick-or-treating.
-
When out trick-or-treating, children should carry glow sticks, flashlights or a bike light so that they can be easily seen by vehicles.
-
When operating a vehicle, keep your headlights on, always adhere to the speed limit and drive cautiously when going through neighborhoods.
-
Remind children to always walk on the sidewalk, never jaywalk and look both ways for oncoming drivers before crossing the road.
-
Restrain your pets so that they are not able to jump up and attack children who may be out trick-or-treating.
Candy
-
Beware of choking hazards! Babies and toddlers should be wary of candy wrappers, small candies, popcorn, gummy candies, anything with whole nuts, pumpkin seeds, popcorn and gum.
-
While it is rare for candy laced with marijuana and other drugs to end up in a child's trick-or-treat basket on purpose, a grown up should still check a child's treat haul before eating. Many marijuana (cannabis) edibles look very similar to regular candy and could easily be confused with Halloween treats. Cannabis can be harmful for children of all ages.
Most importantly, review with your child how to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.
About the Authors
Hailey Nelson, MD, FAAP, IBCLC is a complex care pediatrician at Valley Children’s Charlie Mitchell Children’s Center. Dr. Nelson enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities and is especially passionate about providing the best possible care to medically fragile children and their families. As the ambassador for Safe Kids Central California, she is a vocal advocate for children’s wellness and regularly appears in news media discussing pediatric healthcare. She is also a licensed breastfeeding consultant, certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultants to support nursing mothers and their babies. Learn more about Dr. Nelson here.
Dr. Rajvee Sanghavi is a California native who comes to Valley Children's from Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and is in her third year of Postgraduate Residency. Dr. Sanghavi is an advocate for empowering communities through action-based community involvement and follows a care philosophy of taking the time to listen to her patients and their stories to provide a holistic approach to their care. Learn more about Dr. Sanghavi here.