October 30, 2006
Last reviewed on October 29, 2010
By Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
and Claire McCarthy, M.D.
Boston Children's Hospital
Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and we all can help them have a safe holiday with the following tips, adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
All Dressed Up
- Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
- Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
- Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider nontoxic makeup and decorative, well-fitting hats as safer alternatives.
- Look for costumes, wigs and accessories that are labeled flame-resistant.
- If a sword, cane or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
- Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
- Teach children how to call 911 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
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Carving a Niche
- Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers, and an adult can do the cutting.
- Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
- Indoor lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects and should never be left unattended.
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Home Safe Home
- To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
- Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
- Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps.
- Keep pets indoors; if necessary, confine them to a room during trick-or-treating to prevent them from getting outside.
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On the Trick-or-Treat Trail
- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on neighborhood rounds.
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review an acceptable route and agree on when they should return home.
- Remind children to:
- Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
- Carry a mobile phone for quick communication.
- Go only to homes with a porch light on.
- Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
- Never cut across yards or use alleys.
- Never enter a stranger's home or car.
- Cross the street as a group and only in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
- Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops doesn't mean others will!
- Notify law enforcement authorities immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
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Healthy Halloween
- Serve a good meal before parties and trick-or-treating to discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
- Consider purchasing non-food treats, such as coloring books or pens and pencils, for trick-or-treaters who visit your home.
- Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Try to ration treats for the days after Halloween.
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Henry H. Bernstein, D.O., is a senior lecturer in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the chief of general pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He is the former director of primary care at Children's Hospital Boston.
Claire McCarthy, M.D., is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston and medical director of the Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. She is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications.
