As the spooky season creeps upon us, it’s clear that Halloween will look quite different from the past couple of years as we start to creep back to normal and continue to recover from the pandemic. Although it may prove to be somewhat challenging to participate in the usual festivities, check out our safety tips so your family has a fun and safe spooky season this year.
Decorations: Halloween provides a great opportunity to decorate your home with the kids help. Please make sure when you are decorating the decorations are safe for all involved and pose no safety risk. Avoid small items that could pose a choking hazard.
*Use battery powered flashlights and imitation candle lights to avoid open flames.
Costume safety:
*Choose costumes without small choking hazards, or drawstrings which can pose strangulation hazards. Remove the drawstrings from costumes that have hoods so they’re good to go.
*Form-fitting costumes prevent tripping and fabric catching on fire. Stay away from long trailing fabric.
*Still use a COVID-19 health mask even if a costume already has a mask. Better to be safe than sorry.
*Place reflective material on the front and back of costumes in order to see and be seen by drivers.
* If you use makeup or face paint, choose non-toxic products. When using face paint, make sure your child is not allergic by testing out a small patch beforehand – preferably a few days prior.
Pumpkin carving seems like a family-friendly activity, but according to child safety experts almost half of Halloween-related injuries occur from pumpkin carving. Some stores sell pumpkin carving kits marketed to children, but they can include sharp tools that may not be suitable for young children. Let young children help in other ways like drawing the design or scooping out the pumpkin seeds.
We hope you and your family have a fun, spooky, and safe Halloween!