ABC's of Halloween Safety

Halloween is one of the most anticipated nights of the year — creative costumes, spooky decorations, and plenty of candy to last you through the year. In order to keep the festivities fun, it's good to refresh yourself and your family members about best safety practices for this time of year.   

Some key things to keep in mind include driving slowly, making sure costumes are well-fastened and safe, and being extra careful with knives while carving pumpkins.

Here is a fun way to remember everything you need to know about staying safe from Amwell’s Dr. Mia Finkelston:

Choose a costume that is not baggy or big to avoid trips and falls.
Avoid masks that obstruct your child’s sight or make it difficult for them to breathe.
Never leave kids unattended. All trick-or-treaters should be should be accompanied by a responsible adult to reinforce safety throughout the night.
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Yield to all traffic signs and make sure to stay on sidewalks, and off the streets, as much as possible

Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during this timeframe.
Use flashlights or glow sticks to make it easier to be seen at night.
Make sure to look both ways before crossing the street.
Politeness is never out of season. Don’t forget to say “thank you”.
Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from stairways and doorsteps to avoid costumes from bushing up against the flame.
Inspect candy when you get home and avoid eating sweets with open wrappers or packaging.
Never enter a stranger’s home.

Be aware of your surroundings; put electronic devices down and keep heads up.
Organize a Halloween pre-party to meet and set up a trick-or-treating route with parents and friends.
Openly talk to your kids about safety and proper trick-or-treating etiquette before Halloween

If something does happen to go awry during your spooky adventure, keep Amwell handy and remember that a doctor is available anytime, anywhere.