Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween

Halloween can be a recipe for disaster. Just think: hyper-charged by sugar, in costumes and masks, prowling dark streets with little supervision. The risks can be enormous. How can parents help protect thier kids and make Halloween a fun yet safe experience? Consider this advice for making trick or treating a safe experience.

Plan ahead. First, parents should make sure they know the expected route their children are planning to take for trick or treating. Make sure they have an expected time for return and that the kids have a watch.

Go along for the fun. The best approach is to make sure a responsible adult, preferably a parent, accompanies all trick or treaters. A little adult supervision can go a long way. Get together with other parents and take the little people as a group. Some of the fondest memories as an adult at Halloween, have been chatting with friends as the kids went door to door.

Stay on the beaten path. Remind your truck or treaters that they should stay in populated areas and away from open fields, back alleys and the like. Choosing well lit streets is a good rule.

Go only to known houses. This is a little tough to enforce, but is a wise choice. Just go to homes of people you know and can trust. While treat tampering is rare, you have to exercise a little caution. And there is a built in benefit - treats are usually a little better if the person behind the door knows the kids who are knocking!

Take a few safety precautions. Make sure your children have a flashlight or chemical "glow stick" with them. Putting a little reflective tape on the back of costumes is a good idea as well.

Watch for cars. This seems like common sense advice. but trick or treaters sometimes assume drivers can see them. Exercise extra caution. And remember, just because one car stops for them doesn't mean that all cars will.

Help them avoid crime. Sometimes children can unwittingly participate in criminal activities in the name of fun at Halloween. Toilet papering, parties, egging houses, terrorizing trick or treaters, engaging in harmful practical jokes, shoplifting and the like are criminal offenses. Sometimes masks and customes can make children feel invulnerable! Halloween is not an excuse for vandalism and crime. Warn them sternly. If they become involved in something like this, make them clean up or make restitution.

Custome safety. Here are some general guidelines for Halloween customes:

• Any costume should be made of flame retardant material. There are just enough jack o'lanterns around to make us think twice.
• Costumes should have at least some way of being visible in the dark. Reflective tape, lighter colors, battery operated flashing lights, and the like are important.
• Avoid high heels and other tripping hazards with costumes. Props like swords, scythers and the like should be bendable in case they are fallen on.
• Masks should have eye holes big enough to allow peripheral vision. If possible, avoid a mask altogether and use face paint.

As your children get a little older, trick or treating loses it allure and they will start looking for parties, haunted houses and the like. If your children are headed out for a party away from home, follow a few common sense rules:

• Set a curfew. Make sure the kids know what time they need to be home and that they have a watch.
• Know where they are going. Get a name, address, and phone number of their destination. It's also a good idea to make sure there will be adults supervising the party.
• Take a cell phone or change. Make sure your kids have a way to contact you and to get home if needed. Sometimes parties can turn ugly in a variety of ways and they may want to get out and fast.
• Consider hosting your own party. One way to stay in control of Halloween activities is to be the party host.
• Plan activities in advance. Consider having some active games like a scavenger hunt or a murder mystery. A little structure can go a long way toward a safe Halloween.
• Get creative. A pumpkin carving contest can be fun. You can even plan this around a theme like classic horror movies, local landmarks and the like. Have the party guests bring them along and carve them on-site.
• Videos are great. With a little care and planning, you can rent a couple of Halloween classics at the video store. This with some munchies and a little supervision can be a great teen activity.

With trick or treaters, teen party goers and the possibility of a little adventure in the neighborhood, it pays to take a few precautions.

Open flames are a real hazard. If you use candles in your jack o'lanterns, make sure that they are not where costumes can connect with them. Put them on a shelf, on a garden wall or somewhere where they are not a potential fire hazard.

Keep pets safe. If any group has the potential for a bad Halloween experiences, pets would probably be close to the top of the list. Put your dogs and cats inside on Halloween night to minimize their stress and keep them safe from pranksters who might put them at risk. Don't let the kids feed them Halloween candy - not good for the digestive tract of any domestic animal.

Patrol occasionally. It doesn't hurt a couple times Halloween evening to jump in the car or wander down the street with your cell phone and a strong flashlight. Taking the iniative to establish a presence can eliminate vandalism or other problems before they start.

Be safe, use a little extra care and plan ahead. You can make a difference in your children's safety this Halloween.

This article was provided to us by Officer Scott Barthelmass of the Overland Police Department. Information originally from the Firefighters Association of Missouri. Thanks Scott!! You can find their article in PDF format here.