5 Child Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating

Halloween gives your little one a chance to dress up in a fun costume and snag some free candy. While some of us like being spooked on Halloween, it's important to protect your family from legitimate safety scares while creating memories.

Here are 5 ways you can reduce your safety risk this October 31:

1. Be visible
   
   While road safety is important year-round, keep in mind that children are 4x more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. So, deck out your youngsters with reflective gear, bright flashing treat buckets... or even a light-up personal alarm, which doubles as an extra-loud call for help in an emergency. 
   
   
2. Double-check your costumes 
   
   Make sure your little fairy, ghost, or goblin doesn't have fabric or other costume elements dangling too far on the ground, or off their person in case of wind. This helps ensure that they won't come too close to candles or other potentially hazardous yard decor. 
   
   
3. Trust your gut
   
   This is another guideline that holds up year-round, but is especially important on Halloween. While costumes are fun, they also give people with bad intentions some extra cover. Steer clear of people and homes that make you feel uncomfortable. And remember that it's OK to be rude if you are concerned for your safety.
   
   
4. Be prepared with a pepper gel (adults/guardians 18+) 
   
   Despite trusting your human instinct, you may still be put in a situation where someone is making you feel unsafe. Bring peace of mind on your trick-or-treating journey in the form of a SABRE® Red Pepper Gel. Extremely compact and convenient keychain models contain 25 bursts, with the same maximum heat trusted by the world's leading law enforcement agencies. Plus, pepper gel virtually eliminates wind blowback, only affecting what it directly contacts. 
   
   
5. Inspect all treats 
   
   Before the sugar rush begins, examine your little one's bounty. Keep an eye out for anything that's homemade, unsealed, ripped, or questionable in any way. While it's highly unlikely, if you discover a serious safety problem—such as a razor or needle—inform the authorities immediately and warn others in your area. 

Prepare your trick-or-treater for Halloween with this child safety Halloween Scramble from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This activity reminds children to walk on the sidewalk, stay in groups, avoid strangers, carry a flashlight, and have their parents check their treats.