Halloween brings fun and excitement to children of all ages in October. An estimated 41.1 million children, ages 5-14, are anticipated to trick or treat in the United States this year. 

As your children and loved ones joyfully head out to trick or treat this year, keep in mind Halloween brings tricky safety concerns. Here are some great safety tips to make your fun-filled night one to remember.

1. Only Trick Or Treat During Posted Times

You don’t have to wait until it is dark outside to go trick-or-treating. A good trick-or-treat time is right after dinner, and right before dusk when children are easier to see and keep track of. Trick-or-treating hours vary by location. Be sure to check your neighborhoods posted times before planning your night.

1. Avoid Masks

While masks make many costumes complete, most times you can recreate the mask with face paint. Masks can sometimes impair the vision of the child wearing it. It is easier for your child to see where they are going with face paint. If your child insists on wearing a mask, ensure that it is well fitting and has eyeholes large enough to properly see in all directions.

1. Remain Visible

Encourage your child to choose a costume that is brightly colored and highly visible so they are easier to see. If a dark costume is what they pick, you can apply reflective strips to their costume or have them wear or carry glow sticks and flashlights.

1. Walking Tips

Be sure that your child understands traffic rules, such as stopping and looking both ways before crossing the street and staying in crosswalks. A quick refresh on basic traffic and street crossing rules can go a long way in their safety when heading out to trick or treat.

1. Do Not Go Inside

While trick-or-treating, your children should never go inside anybody’s home. If they run into a situation where a homeowner is persistent they enter the building, tell them to simply turn and walk away.

1. Stay On Track

Taking a brief cut through an alley or cutting through someone's yard might be tempting, but that can sometimes pose a risk. Stay on roads and in well-lit neighborhoods where many individuals are around.

1. Say No!

If you have kids who are old enough to trick or treat in a group without you, be sure to give them a definitive time to return home. Teach them that if a stranger offers a ride or they receive an invite to a Halloween party, they should say "no." Stranger danger is important to remember, regardless of how old your children are.

Halloween is a fun and exciting time and safety should be first in everyone’s minds when heading out to trick or treat this October. We wish everyone a Happy Halloween! If for some reason you or a loved one is injured, do not hesitate to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at 800-800-5678, or start a live chat with us anytime at Hupy.com.