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Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a time for spooky thrills and imagination.  But the holiday also brings some extra risks for children and teens. Help keep Halloween fun and safe for your family with these tips.

Walk Safely

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
6. Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Costumes for a Safe Halloween

1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. 
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. 

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Get rid of any distractions - like your phone - in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
5. Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
6. Be especially alert for kids during trick-or-treating hours.

Halloween Safety Tips

Pumpkins & decorating Safety

1. Never allow small children to carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Parents can do the cutting and then let little ones clean out the inside pulp and seeds. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand offers safe pumpkin carving tips.
2. Consider using a battery-operated flameless candle, flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your jack-o'-lantern. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
3. Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by. They should never be left unattended.

Your child’s safety is our top priority and by following these Halloween safety tips, you can ensure that they have a fantastic and safe Halloween experience.  City of East Chicago wishes you and your family a spooky and safe Halloween!