Are you going trick-or-treating on October 31? Here are some Halloween safety tips to keep in mind.
It’s important to follow the health and safety guidelines in your community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the government website for your province/territory and/or reach out to a safe adult to learn more about Halloween festivities this year. You can also look for other ways to celebrate special events during the coronavirus disease outbreak.
Halloween is the time of year for pumpkin carving, haunted houses, apple cider and of course, trick-or-treating. If you’re heading out in your Halloween costume on October 31, here are some tips for staying safe while having fun:
- Prepare your costume: try on your costume before October 31 to make sure it fits and won’t cause you to trip or fall. You can also write your name, emergency contact information and any allergies you have on a piece of paper inside your treat bag.
- Stay warm: layer some warm clothes underneath your Halloween costume just in case the temperature drops throughout the night.
- Stand out: bring a flashlight, wear reflectors or add bright colours/shiny decorations to your costume so others — especially cars — can see you in the dark.
- Tell a safe adult: let a safe adult know where you’ll be on Halloween. You could even ask if they’d like to dress up and join you along the way. You may want to write down the details of the route you plan to take while trick-or-treating.
- Go with a group: go trick-or-treating with a group of friends or relatives. Stick together and have a plan in case you get separated.
- Be in touch: if you have a cellphone, make sure it’s fully charged before heading out for the night. If you don’t have a cellphone, bring change for a payphone or make sure a friend has a device you can borrow. It may be helpful to write down important phone numbers in case of emergency.
- Go to houses you know: try to trick-or-treat in an area you’re familiar with and at houses you know. You can always have a safe adult knock on the door first. Don’t go inside a stranger’s house and skip any houses if the lights are out.
- Watch for traffic: obey the traffic rules in your community and always watch for cars when crossing the street. It’s a good idea to go up and down the street instead of zigzagging across the road. Always use sidewalks, driveways and crosswalks. Be extra careful around train tracks, too.
- Don’t talk to strangers: lots of people will be out and about on Halloween, so it’s important to stay with your group and avoid talking to people you don’t know.
- Check your candy: before you dig in, have a safe adult examine what you’ve collected to make sure it’s OK for you to have. They’ll check the candy for its expiration date and ingredients (to ensure you’re not allergic). They’ll also look for any evidence of tampering — the candy should always be sealed in its original packaging.
Halloween can be one of the best (and spookiest) nights of the year. By involving a safe adult and going trick-or-treating with a group, you can have fun and stay safe on October 31.
