CARE stands for Costumes, Accessories, Reflective Surfaces and Examine.

Costumes: Make sure your child can move around safely in his or her costume. We recommend face paint instead of masks, which are often implicated in falls and scrapes. Have your child try on the costume well before Halloween (avoid last minute purchases) and make necessary alterations to make the costume more user-friendly. It’s better to cut the bottom of a costume so that legs move freely than to risk a trip or fall. Try to purchase costumes that are made with flame retardant material. If you think your kid’s movement is impaired and you can’t alter the costume, please hold their hand the entire evening and take extra care as they ascend and descend steps.

Accessories: For little children, fewer accessories are better. It’s enough for them to walk around, holding their treat bag and stay together with the group. When they are holding that light saber or Toto in a basket, it means that their hands are not free and if they do trip or fall, they can’t use their hands to steady themselves or break their fall. If you must accessorize, make sure everything is attached securely (like crowns and butterfly wings). Swords and light sabers should be flexible and should not have pointy ends.

Reflective surfaces: Lots of costumes are dark, like vampires and witches and wizards. But being able to be visible is important for safety. So be sure the kids are wearing something reflective (we love the light up sneakers), or just attach some reflective tape or bike reflector lights on their backs or on their coats as well as on their treat bag. Be sure you travel with flashlights (you can use the one on your phone, as long as you have enough juice on your phone to last through the night). Parents should wear light colored clothing, so at least they will be highly visible.

Examine the Treats Before Eating Them: Please tell the kids not to eat from the treat bag until you have gotten back home. Consider packing a few treats from home for them to eat during the walk so they won’t be tempted. For the most part, the treats are going to be just fine, but do examine everything and make sure nothing is opened. Certainly for kids with allergies, their parents or guardians need to check to be sure it’s safe to eat what has been gathered.

Finally, we implore you: Don’t send your kids out alone. Even teens and tweens should have parents nearby to be sure they are safe.

Costume Safety

• Attach reflective tape or stickers to your child’s costume and treat bucket or bag.  In the dark, the little ones in dark costumes can be difficult for drivers to see, and the reflective tape will help with visibility.
• Avoid masks as they can limit visibility for the little ones, causing them to trip.  Consider face make-up instead.  Ditto for long, dragging costumes or dresses.  Walking up and down the front steps of people’s homes, sometimes with lit candles inside pumpkins, can make these costumes hazardous.
• Look for labels on costumes, wigs and other accessories that indicate that they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane or stick is part of your trick-or-treater’s costume, make sure it is not too long or sharp.    A child may be hurt by these items if s/he stumbles or trips.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an examination and prescription from an eye care professional.

While Walking…

• Children 12 years old and under who are trick-or-treating should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Older children and teens who are trick-or-treating without adult supervision should walk in groups, stay in familiar, well-lit areas, carry cell phones for communication with parents and agree on a time to return home by.
• Both children and adults should carry flashlights to help light the way in the dark.
• Only go to homes with porch lights that are on and never go into a home to get a treat.
• Stay on sidewalks, avoid roadways.  Only cross the street in groups, at approved crosswalks.  And remember to look both ways as you cross the street.
• Carry a cell phone for easy communication and in case of emergencies.
• Contact law enforcement (kids should also know how to dial 9-1-1) if any suspicious or unlawful activity occurs.

How to Keep Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

• Remove any hazards from your front yard that someone might trip over, including garden hoses, rakes, lawn ornaments and the like.
• Wet leaves or snow should be removed from walkways.
• Keep your front yard well-lit by replacing burned-out bulbs.
• Light your jack-o-lantern with a flashlight instead of a candle.

Enjoying the Goodies!

• Eat a healthy dinner before going out trick-or-treating.  A full tummy will make it less tempting to sample the goodies along the way!
• Have your children wait until they get home to sample their treats.  An adult should check through all of the treats and discard anything that is unwrapped, spoiled or otherwise suspicious.
• Try to ration goodies for the days and weeks following Halloween to avoid upset stomachs.

Sources inclue:  The American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan State University Extension