Halloween is an exciting time of the year for most children. But this holiday also comes with dangers. On Halloween, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed as any other day of the year. Danger can also be found within treats and with costumes. We recommend the following ideas to make your Halloween as safe as possible.

· For costumes:

o Decorate with reflective tape or stickers in order to make your child more visible in low- light conditions.

o Consider non-toxic face paint or makeup over masks as masks can obstruct vision.

o Provide your child with a flashlight or glow stick for better lighting.

· For Trick or Treating:

o Children under 12 years of age should always be accompanied by a responsible adult while out trick or treating.

o Always caution children of all ages to not enter any homes or cars while out.

o Children older than 12 years of age should always trick or treat in groups.

· For treats:

o Consider eating a meal prior to trick or treating. This may help curb your child’s appetite and avoid overeating of sugary treats.

o Parents should sort and check all collected items and discard all opened or unwrapped items. For young children, parents should be on the lookout for any item that could be a choking hazard.

o Be mindful of children with potential food allergies. Consider having an alternate non-food item available for children who have food allergies. Be part of the Teal Pumpkin Project. https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project

Have a safe Halloween. For more information, please consult the American Academy of Pediatrics Halloween guidelines at https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx.