Halloween safety tips

Halloween week is finally here! Now that you have the perfect Halloween costume  it’s time to make sure your family has a safe and happy Halloween night. We gathered some valuable safety tips with the help of Mayo Clinic and safekids.org. By following these tips you and your family will have a Halloween to remember.

Walk Safely

• Cross the street at corners, obeying traffic signals and using crosswalks.

• Look left, right, and left again when crossing and stay aware as you cross.

• Put electronic devices away and keep your head up as you walk across the street. Do not run.

• Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.

• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to

the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treating

• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision.

• Stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

• Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group of friends, parents, or older siblings.

• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew.

• Teach your kids to approach only clearly lit homes and advise them to never go inside a home.

• You may want to give your child a cell phone for the evening should he or she need to contact you.

Keep Costumes both Creative and Safe

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, use light colors.

• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.

• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive with Extra Caution on Halloween

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and on curbs.

• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.

• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Candy Galore

• Inspect treats carefully and don’t let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Discard anything that isn’t sealed, has torn packaging, or looks questionable.

• Ration the loot. Instead of letting kids eat all the candy at once, dole out a few pieces at a time.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.