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Halloween safety: Tips for trick-or-treaters
Make Halloween safety part of your holiday fun. Start with these practical Halloween safety tips.
By Mayo Clinic staffIt's the time of year for costumes, sweets, and tricks and treats. Put Halloween safety first with these common-sense tips.
Carve safely
Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make Halloween safety a family affair.
- Decorate with markers or paint. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers or child-friendly paint. Leave any carving to an adult.
- Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Better yet, light pumpkins with flashlights or battery-operated flameless candles instead.
Get clever with costumes
From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choosing costumes wisely is an important part of Halloween safety.
- The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials. If your child will be trick-or-treating outdoors after dark, attach reflective tape to his or her costume.
- Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.
- Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly makeup instead.
- Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — may pose safety hazards.
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References
- Halloween food safety tips for parents. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm187021.htm. Accessed July 12, 2010.
- Novelty makeup. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm143055.htm. Accessed July 12, 2010.
- Halloween safety tips. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/octhalloween.cfm. Accessed July 12, 2010.
- Halloween safety. National Safety Council. http://downloads.nsc.org/pdf/factsheets/Halloween_Safety.pdf. Accessed July 12, 2010.
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