Planning ahead can make this Halloween safer for your little mosters. Check out these safety tips so your night is a treat, not a trick!
Costumes
- When you buy or make costumes, masks, beards, and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label “Flame Resistant.”
- Purchase or make costumes that are light-colored, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
- For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape on the front, back and sides that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
- Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
- Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground to guard against trips and falls.
- If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
- Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
Treats
- Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
- Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters who are younger than three years of age.
Decorations
- Remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
- Keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other items that could ignite. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
- Indoors or outside, use only decorative light strands that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Don’t overload extension cords.
Follow these tips and have a happy and safe Halloween!
For more information visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
