Red Cross Offers Halloween Safety Tips

ST. LOUIS - It’s that time of year when ghosts and goblins take to the streets for some Halloween fun. Halloween continues to be extremely popular with kids of all ages, however, it can pose some safety challenges.

“It’s important to plan ahead for Halloween fun and festivities to ensure everyone stays safe while participating in the many different activities surrounding this holiday,” said Beth Elders, executive director of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Here are some tips to consider to keep you and your family safe and healthy this Halloween.

Trick-or-Treating

• Make your trick-or-treaters visible to others. Provide kids with reflective gear, flashlights, and glow sticks to help make the route easier for them to follow and more visible to any vehicles on the roads. Adding reflective tape to costumes and treat buckets can help increase your trick-or-treater’s visibility to traffic.
• Keep your hands clean. Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands when you get home.
• Practice pedestrian safety. Look both ways before crossing streets (at street corners). Use sidewalks to walk to the next destination. If sidewalks are not available, walk on the edge of the roadway, while facing traffic. Cross at the corners of the street, not between parked cars.
• Be considerate of other people. Only visit homes with a porch light on and accept treats at the door.
• Know where your trick-or-treaters are going and who they will be with. Have a parent or responsible adult accompany any younger children during Halloween activities.
• Have an adult check all candy before eating. Dispose of any loose, open candy, or candy that could be a choking hazard or any unfamiliar brands.

Handing Out Candy

• Do not hand out candy if anyone in the household is not feeling well or isolating. This helps keep everyone as healthy as possible.
• Provide proper lighting and sweep clear your sidewalks and steps. Having good lighting and a clear path helps visitors see where they are walking and avoid getting hurt.

Driving on Halloween

• Watch for trick-or-treaters. Sometimes people may forget to look both ways before crossing streets, so make sure you pay attention while driving. Many areas practice daytime trick-or-treating on Halloween too and will have children on the streets throughout the entire day.

Download free Red Cross apps

Download the free Red Cross First Aid app for instant access to expert advice in case your ghost, goblin or superhero has a mishap. Use the Emergency app for weather alerts and to let others know you are safe if severe weather occurs. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

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