Dressing up, trick-or-treating and home decorating are all part of celebrating Halloween. Halloween can be fun for homeowners, kids and parents, but it requires some planning.

Halloween Costume design

Every year, people are seriously injured because of poor costume design. Face masks can limit visibility and breathing. Wrapped cloth can prevent a person from escaping a fire. And poor-fitting costumes can become trip-and-fall hazards or get caught or entangled.

If you have young children, make sure their costumes are safe and age-appropriate.

  • Purchase or make a costume that enables your child to speak clearly.
  • Check the label for material that can release toxic vapors, such as rubber and synthetics.
  • Check that your child can maintain awareness of their surroundings and move freely.
  • Use nontoxic, hypoallergenic makeup to create eerie effects without compromising breathing or vision.

Be vigilant when trick-or-treating

If you’re going trick-or-treating:

  • Travel in a group.
  • Stand in a well-lit spot where you can see the kids and the homeowner.
  • Only send your kids up a driveway if the porch lights are on.
  • Do not allow your kids to enter a home.
  • Make sure everyone in your group has a functioning flashlight or reflective clothing.
  • Don’t let your kids go out on bikes or skateboards.

If you’re attending a public event, remain with your child and be aware of your surroundings.

Remove hazards from your yard and walkways

As a homeowner, think about how trick-or-treaters will travel to your door. Then clear any tripping hazards from the path. You don’t want kids getting hurt and you certainly don’t want a lawsuit when one of them falls over a yard decoration near your door. Mood lighting can be fun, but make sure people can still see the path. Purchase sweets that are individually wrapped and place them in each child’s bag.

Protect your pets During Halloween

Bring pets indoors. They may not appreciate the costumes and their fear could lead to an attack or a bite. Keeping your pet indoors will also protect them from becoming prey to attacks themselves.

Host responsibly

If you are hosting a party, use LED lighting instead of candles to create the ambiance. If you are serving alcohol, offer snacks to reduce the alcohol’s effects. Remember, you assume shared responsibility for how much alcohol your guests drink.

Halloween can be fun for everyone, but it can present dangers for you, your kids and your pets if you aren’t prepared. Take steps to stay safe this Halloween.