< Arkansas Children's Blog

Halloween Safety Tips

October 30, 2019

As you prepare to head out Halloween night with your little goblins, pint-sized pirates, and frilly fairies, here are a few safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to make sure everyone has fun and gets home safely.

All Dressed Up

  • Find costumes that are bright and reflective.
  • Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping or contact with flame.
  • If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or long.
  • When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
  • Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.

On the Trick-or-Treat Trail

  • Always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
  • Take flashlights with fresh batteries for your children, friends and other chaperones.
  • Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters:
    • Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
    • Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
    • Carry a cellphone for quick communication.
    • Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
    • If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

  • Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
  • If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. 

Healthy Halloween

  • A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
  • Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your homes, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
  • Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. A responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
  • Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween.

We hope you never have to bring your child to one of our Emergency Rooms. But if you do, our pediatric experts are ready and waiting to provide your child with the very best care possible, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.