58 Halloween Safety Tips (2024): For Adults, For Pets, For Kids, Statistics & More

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Dids playing with sparklers behind Jack-o'-lanterns at night.
Halloween is so fun it’s scary! Follow these safety tips and you’ll be enjoying this treasured day with your loved ones without any mishaps.

All Hallows Eve is usually associated with fun things like candy, trick or treating, and pumpkin carving. But it can also be scary, for children and adults alike. In addition to spooky costumes, there are other potential dangers for families to consider. When planning your festivities this year, keep these Halloween safety tips in mind (so no one ends up in the graveyard).

8 Ways To Stay Safe On Halloween

We’ll get into more specifics, but here are eight essential tips for everyone to follow:

  1. Don’t keep candles burning in Jack-o’-lanterns or luminaries. Consider using battery-operated flames.
  2. You might also opt for a safer pumpkin “carving” by painting them or decorating them with stickers.
  3. Look for flame-resistant costumes, wigs, and accessories, and make sure your dress or outfit is the proper length and fit, so you don’t trip or catch fire.
  4. If applying face paint, be careful around the eyes and test for any skin allergies before using it.
  5. Avoid using contact lenses that alter the look or color of your eyes as they can be hazardous to your eye health.
  6. Use a flashlight, LED light, or apply reflective tape to your costume to see and be seen by others, including cars.
  7. If you wear a mask, test for full visibility out of the eye holes and proper breathability.
  8. If your costume requires a sword or weapon, do not swing it around, and keep the pointed part away from yourself and others.

Top 4 Halloween Safety Tips For Kids

Clear glass bowl filled with halloween candy.
Follow our candy safety tips to ensure your kids are able to enjoy this bowl of candy this year!

Little ones should always be our top priority, but they are especially vulnerable during this time of year. Here are some Halloween safety tips for children.

4 Halloween Candy Safety Tips For Kids

  1. Never let them go inside a home to accept candy and keep all little ones supervised at all times (never let minors go out trick o’ treating solo).
  2. Inspect all candy before eating. Check the contents of their bags and buckets for choking hazards and make sure candy is all properly sealed (throw away anything that’s been opened or is not packaged). It’s best to wait until you get home to indulge so you have better light to properly inspect each item.
  3. Have an allergy-safe Halloween. Review each label for any potentially harmful ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, or gluten.
  4. Brush your teeth before bed. No one wants to suffer from a toothache from too much sugar or chocolate!

12 Halloween Safety Tips For Adults

Adults should be equally prepared to ensure they don’t get into any Halloween hazards.

When Trick Or Treating

  1. Arm your home alarm system and lock the doors, so your valuables are safe while you’re out. You can also use the app to check your security camera for any suspicious activity.
  2. Stay in neighborhoods that are familiar to you.
  3. Use the buddy system and avoid letting anyone go out alone.
  4. Start early, and don’t stay out late.
  5. Walk, don’t run, between houses.
  6. Only cross the street at corners or crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
  7. Use only sidewalks and clearly lit areas, avoiding yards and streets where possible (as to not trip or ruin any costumes or yard decor).
  8. Plan your route ahead of time to stay on the same side of the street (versus zigzagging back and forth).
  9. Don’t split up and plan to have a meeting spot in case you get lost.
  10. Only approach homes that have a porch light on (or are obviously accepting trick or treaters).
  11. Double-check your shoelaces are tied and wear shoes that are easy to walk in (e.g., sneakers instead of boots with heels).
  12. If inclement weather is in the forecast, consider staying home for a virtual party with neighbors or friends.

5 Halloween Home Security Tips

Whether you plan to hit the streets or stay in, here are some things to keep in mind.

  1. Get a smart doorbell or outdoor security camera with night vision to see who’s at the door before you open it.
  2. Be careful using sharp knives to carve pumpkins. Keep a firm grip on the blade with your forefinger and thumb and consider using pumpkin-carving tools.
  3. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and test them before you light any candles.
  4. Turn on lights, so they know you’re home and accepting guests (or turn them off if you aren’t or when you run out of candy).
  5. Keep the entrance well-illuminated, so people can see the pathway to your door.

7 Ways To Safely Trick Or Treat

Even though COVID is somewhat under control now, it’s important to prevent the spread of germs as we head into the winter months and cold and flu season.

  1. Ensure everyone has a face covering (such as this nifty one with pumpkins!)
  2. Go out only with your immediate family members.
  3. If you or a child is not feeling well, stay home and don’t go out and about.
  4. Leave candy on the doorstep in a bowl and put a sign up that encourages them to take a piece.
  5. Get creative with making a sign that says, “Don’t be a witch – take only one bag of candy per child.”
  6. Put out a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the bowl of candy (but don’t expect that all kids will use it).
  7. Hand out individually wrapped candy to prevent the spread of germs. Better yet, put candy in mini party favor bags and place one bag out at a time. Watch through the window or on your doorbell camera and, when it’s gone, replenish it.

Top 5 Halloween Safety Statistics

These stats aren’t meant to scare you from having a ghastly time this Halloween, but being cognizant of them can help you enjoy the night without mishaps.

  1. Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by vehicles on Halloween night. Follow our street safety tips below to reduce the chance of an accident.
  2. Most child pedestrian accidents happen between 6 and 7 pm.
  3. The largest spike in tree and nut allergy admissions to the emergency room (ER) is on Halloween night. Double-check the ingredients in all your treats before allowing your kids to enjoy them.
  4. 70% of parents don’t go trick or treating with their children. Take the night off and stay with your kids at all times, especially if they are age 12 or under.
  5. 85% of adults bring alcohol to a Halloween party. We know parties can be more fun with alcohol, but since this night is about your kids, consider a non-alcoholic alternative instead.

5 Ways To Stay Street Safe

  1. Wear light or reflective colors (you can also use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags), and carry glow sticks or flashlights so drivers can more easily see you.
  2. Test your costume and make sure it fits and isn’t too long so as to cause trips and falls.
  3. Keep pets in rooms that are secure and away from windows at the front of the house where they can bark and scare away trick-or-treaters (and spook your pup).
  4. If you’re driving, make sure your headlights are on so you can spot kids, drive slowly, and stay alert.
  5. If you are wearing masks, make sure they fit properly and don’t restrict your eyesight.

Video: Bring The Horror Home

Who needs to visit haunted houses when you can experience one from the comfort of your home? Turn off the lights and turn up the volume to have a spooky watching party.

Stay Safe Year-Round

We hope these ideas help you stay safe on Halloween night. Most of all, have fun, and don’t get spooked! There are many ways to protect yourself and your family throughout the year. Halloween is right on the tail end of hurricane season, and we’ve got emergency preparedness guides for year-round events, including preparing you for the upcoming winter weather.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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