Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is almost here!  Little ghosts and goblins will fill the neighborhoods, going door to door to collect candy.  My children always loved picking out their costumes, and mom (me) always loved when they wanted homemade costumes.  In fact, the best costume that we ever made was the Jack from Jack in the Box costume we constructed when my son was in 1st grade! It was the hit of the playground, and definitely a big hit as we went through the Jack in the Box drive-thru!

Though the festivities can be fun, it is important to follow certain Halloween safety tips.

Each year before we “hit the road”, we had a family meeting where we went over expectations and safety rules.  After our meeting, our kids would grab their collection bags and eagerly run out the door and wait for us out front.

Our family has always had our own list of safety rules for Halloween, including never, ever go to a door when a porch light isn’t on.  Our kids actually never went trick or treating alone (we were a little over-protective like that!), until they were teens, but they knew not to run ahead of us and to never go to dark porches, or houses that were set way back from the road.  They also knew that they had to stay in groups!  Getting in a car with stranger, or leaving somewhere with a stranger was a rule that they followed every day – not just on Halloween.

Another rule we had was that they were not allowed to eat any of their candy until either their dad or I had a chance to inspect it.  I think (and hope) that most parents do this. Unfortunately things are not always as safe as they appear (I imagine you have heard the horror stories).

I have a few ideas that will you allow to mix things up a bit and provide safety for the neighborhood kids (as well as your own children).

Host a Halloween party for the neighborhood kids! This could turn into a much anticipated event each year. I think most parents would be relieved to have their kids in the home of a trusted friend/neighbor, instead of walking around in the dark. One idea I had is to have parents stationed throughout and around the house/yard, each having a bowl of goodies to hand out to the kids as they “trick or treat” as usual, just at one house.

Create a neighborhood “carnival” of sorts – like a block party – but for the kids. To add a little creativity, there could be a challenge at each station, and maybe even a costume contest for the different age groups.

Energizer has some excellent tips as well, that I have shared with you below!

• Plan a trick-or-treat route ahead of time. Create a route that avoids major intersections, but does have safe crosswalks and sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, be sure to walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Always look both ways before crossing any street.

• Find new ways to celebrate the holiday. Seek out neighborhood “trunk-or-treats” as alternatives to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. These events are great for younger children or in neighborhoods that might be difficult to navigate on Halloween night.

• Keep a portable light on hand (or head). As the sun sets, you don’t want to be caught in the dark.

• Pick the right costume. Choose lightly colored costumes, while avoiding head-to-toe dark selections. Make sure the costume fits properly and shoes are comfortable. If possible, avoid masks and opt for face paint so that vision is not impaired.

• Walk, don’t run. Take your time and walk; don’t run from house to house on Halloween night. Use Energizer portable lights to be aware of decorations or other obstructions in yard and on sidewalks to avoid trips and falls.

• Be selective. Only visit well-lit houses and avoid stopping at dark houses. Remind your children to stay in groups and never accept rides from strangers or enter homes without a parent or guardian.

And finally, probably the most important thing while trick-or-treating is lighting. A fun night can be ruined in a hurry if someone falls or trips. Energizer has some wonderful products that are perfect for Halloween (and any outdoor activities really). Energizer portable lights ensure that you and your children are ready to hit the streets on Halloween night. A couple of products to consider are:

Energizer® LED 2 in 1 light Fusion Flashlights: They are compact and versatile and perfect for little hands! Energizer Light Fusion Technology products are not only convenient, but they are water resistant and provide impressively bright long lasting light which can easily seen by drivers, bicyclists and other pedestrians.

Energizer’s powerful LED headlights: They are lightweight and perfect for keeping hands free. While using these headlights, you are free to hold your child’s hand, while they hold on tightly to their candy bag. You might even thinking about incorporating the headlight into a costume!

Make sure you charge all of your devices before heading out! In case of emergency, it is a good idea to have your cell phone(s) fully charged. Also you want to put fresh batteries in your flashlights. Did you know that Energizer® MAX® with Power Seal Technology is “long-lasting and no leaks guaranteed”*. *Or they will replace your device (see www.energizer.com/guarantee).

One final safety tip is to only use your cell phone for necessary communications and a few photos of course. But ultimately, try leaving your phone in your pocket or purse, so the distraction is not there.

Make sure you follow along with #PoweringSafety to learn about other Halloween Safety Tips! Also, you might like to follow Energizer on Facebook and @EnergizerBunny on Twitter!

Do you have any Halloween safety tips to share?  I would love to hear them!

*I have partnered with The Motherhood, and will be compensated for posting the above Halloween Safety Tips. All opinions are my own.