Hard to believe it’s already Halloween! An interesting fact about the holiday: the top six pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, in 2011, those six states harvested $113 million dollars’ worth of pumpkins. Wow.
Halloween can be a really fun and enjoyable evening, but not all Halloween facts are fun. The harsh reality is this: on Halloween, children are two-to-four times more likely to be hit and killed by a car than any other day. That’s a scary fact. (Pun not intentional.) There is potential for injury through Halloween activities.
Follow these tips to ensure everyone has a safe Halloween.
Trick-or-Treating Safety
- Children under twelve should not be out alone. They should be supervised by an adult, and if at all possible, traveling in a group. Older children should plan a route with their parents and have an established return time.
- Walk on sidewalks or other paths and make sure to check before crossing any streets.
- Only visit homes with the porch light on.
- Ensure your children are carrying glow sticks or flashlights so that drivers can see them better.
- A note to drivers: most children trick or treat between 5:30 and 9:30 pm., so slow down and be vigilant if driving during those hours.
Costume Safety
- Select a costume that fits well. If your child’s costume is too big, there’s a good chance they will trip and fall.
- Pick out flame resistant costumes and do not walk too closely to lit candles.
- Use reflective tape on costumes and bags.
- Avoid masks that can obscure vision.
- Test out make-up first to ensure your child does not have a sensitivity.
- Don’t use over-the-counter decorative contact lenses.
Pumpkin Carving Safety
- Allow the kids to draw on the pumpkins, but never let them to carve. Young children should not handle knives.
- Make sure pumpkins with candles are placed far from anything that could catch on fire.
- Keep matches or lighters stored safely out of reach.
- Candles in a votive are the safest route but consider glow sticks rather than a lit flame.
Stranger Safety
- Never accept rides from strangers.
- Do not enter a stranger’s house.
- Stay in familiar areas.
- Do not accept treats or candy that are not factory wrapped.
Food Safety
- If you’re going to parties, don’t forget common food safety. Don’t leave food out that needs to be refrigerated.
- Feed your child a meal prior to parties to help them avoid overeating candy and other foods that may lead to stomach pains.
- Have an adult sort through all of the candy once the children are home and throw out any candies that are unwrapped.
- Finally, ration the candy over the next thirty days to avoid overindulgence.
