5 tips for a safe Halloween

Keeping Halloween safe is a frightfully vital goal for all your little monsters, ghouls, witches, princesses, superheroes and other creepy characters who’ll be out hunting for treats on your local streets. So, here are 5 practical tips to ensure everyone stays safe during this eerie eve.

Choose a smart, safe costume

It might be a great costume, but is it safe? That's an important question to ask yourself to help prevent incidents! Here are a few other things to consider when choosing or designing Halloween costumes.

Comfort and mobility: Beware of long dresses or capes that can drag on the ground, and possibly trip little ones as they’re trick-or-treating. Have a fitting session before you go out, and adjust the length as needed. Adjustable costumes made of light, flexible materials are best. And when possible, choose boots or shoes that cover part of the legs to keep the costume snugly in place.
Be seen: Choose bright colours and add reflective strips to your children's costumes and accessories to ensure their safety. And make sure drivers can see them from a distance, to minimize the risk of accidents.
See well: In addition to being visible, safe Halloween costumes should also ensure good visibility for the kids wearing them. Avoid masks that obstruct your child's vision. Instead, opt for non-toxic make-up that ensures a clear view and greater comfort.
Accessories: Test those swords, wands and pointed sticks to make sure they're not too rigid, and whenever possible, choose foam or soft plastic versions to avoid injury.

Apply clear safety rules for walking the streets

Road safety is vital to ensure your Halloween outing stays safe and fun for everyone. In addition to drivers, the parents and kids on the streets also have to do their part to minimize the risk of accidents. So, before you start trick-or-treating, remind your kids of these important safety rules:

Walk on one side of the street first and then switch to the other to avoid continuously crossing the street;
Plan and share your route with parents and friends;
Mark off an area where kids can move around safely;
Walk on sidewalks only;
Only cross at designated crosswalks;
Look both ways before crossing;
Move in small groups to be more visible and to make it easier to follow your movements;
Carry a flashlight at all times;
Keep a first-aid kit handy.

Are your kids old enough to go out on Halloween without adult supervision? Establish a clear curfew with them and agree on a means of communication so they can reach you quickly in case of emergency.

Make sure your house is safe if you’re handing out treats

Are you handing out treats to the ghosts and goblins this Halloween? Here are a few important things to keep in mind...

The lighting in your driveway: Keeping your entranceway and stairs well-lit is essential to helping kids get to your door safely. A simple way to brighten up your home is by adding decorative outdoor lights along your driveway (it’s also a great way to add atmosphere!).

Avoid flammable candles and accessories: While candles can add spookiness to your décor, they also represent a significant safety hazard for kids. Instead, choose battery-operated candles for your lighting.
Pets: No matter how friendly they are, pets (especially large dogs) can scare off some kids. What’s more, some pets can become overexcited by the number of strange, costumed visitors on your doorstep. So, to help make sure everyone stays safe and comfortable, consider keeping your pets in a separate room, away from the front door.
Allergy risks: Although the kids’ treats will probably be sorted when they get home, you can help prevent allergic reactions by handing our treats that are free of common allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, milk and eggs.

Make sure your driveway and stairs are cleared (especially if there's snow on Halloween night!) and free of obstacles like bulky decorations.

Sort through your children’s candy carefully

Sorting your kids’ treats is a vital way to ensure that Halloween stays sweet and safe. So, before your kids go trick-or-treating, it’s vital you let them know they have to wait till they get home before they can eat any of their loot (even if the temptation seems unbearable). Here are a few important pointers for sorting candy.

Allergy alert: Sorting candy is especially important for children with known food allergies. So, read those candy labels carefully to check for allergens, and beware of homemade candies or ones without clear labelling. Remember the golden rule: when in doubt, throw them out!
Packaging: Carefully examine each treat under a good light, paying particular attention to packages that are torn, punctured or already open. Damaged packaging could mean that the contents have been tampered with. Discard any candy that might pose any kind of threat.
Choking hazards: Some treats can represent a choking hazard, especially for very young kids who still have difficulty chewing properly. Remove treats that are too hard, too sticky or difficult to chew, as they could caught in your child’s throat or stick to the roof of their mouth.

Speak with your pharmacist as needed

Has your child experienced an unexpected allergic reaction after eating candy? Did they get skin problems from their Halloween makeup? Or maybe they have an upset tummy from eating too much candy? Your Jean Coutu affiliated owner-pharmacist is on hand to help.