![\"group-children-halloween-costume-whitby-oshawa-safety-tips\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFor most of us, Halloween is a day full of excitement, when kids get to dress up as their favourite characters and head out for some good trick or treating fun. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important that you get to know the right Halloween safety tips so everyone has the best time possible.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It may be an exciting day, but there are plenty of hazards we should all be on the lookout for.<\/p>\n
Did you know that children are twice as likely<\/a> to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year?<\/p>\n We don\u2019t want to take the fun out of Halloween, because this is a day many of us look forward to. But it\u2019s important to make sure that Halloween safety is the number one priority at all times.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re on foot taking your little ones out door to door or you\u2019re in your car driving somewhere else, always use as much caution as possible. You can never be too safe.<\/p>\n These Halloween safety tips will keep your kids safe and your worries in check as the spooky day arrives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the fun parts of Halloween is getting together as a family and letting the creative juices flow as we carve some pumpkins. However, children should not be using sharp pumpkin carving tools as they can be dangerous to those little hands.<\/p>\n Pumpkins can get slippery, which poses even more of a risk for cuts and injuries.<\/p>\n Let your kids pick out their own designs and draw them on the pumpkin with a sharpie. Then, the parents can do the cutting and carving.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the first things you should do before your kids set out with their pillowcases or treat bags is plan your route ahead of time<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sometimes streets don\u2019t look the same when it\u2019s dark, especially to younger children and tweens. They could become lost if they aren\u2019t following a specific route.<\/p>\n Additionally, your child is inevitably going to get tired, especially if they\u2019re still little. If you\u2019re just taking random roads along the way, you could end up getting stuck far from your home.<\/p>\n Your route should complete one side of the street at a time, avoiding the zig-zag some excited kids can sometimes make. This helps keep everyone safe and off the roads as much as possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Masks are dangerous. They create vision issues for children and make it harder for them to see when it\u2019s already dark outside.<\/p>\n Children could end up slipping or tripping on something they didn\u2019t see, like a slippery pile of leaves. Masks could also increase their risk of getting hit by a car.<\/p>\n Use makeup or face paint if their costume involves their face, but always double check the product you\u2019re using. Sometimes face paints and Halloween makeup products can trigger allergic reactions<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Make sure any kids who are going out on their own are in a group of at least 3 people. The best number is somewhere around 4 or 5, but the more the merrier.<\/p>\n This makes it easier for cars driving on Halloween night to see trick or treaters and slow down to avoid them. It also helps make sure kids are safe from any other threats, like kidnappers.<\/p>\n Every child is different in regards to maturity, and there\u2019s no specific age where a child becomes old enough to trick or treat on their own, so make a judgement call. Generally, children age 10 or under should be accompanied by an adult, but again, you know your child.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re friends with some of the other parents, get together and take all your kids in a group. You\u2019ll have someone to talk to while the kids ring the doorbells, and you won\u2019t have to stand alone each time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The less your kids need to cross the street, the better. It\u2019s safer for everyone if they stay on the sidewalk if there is one.<\/p>\n Make sure your kids understand that, if they need to cross the street, they should do so at a corner, a crosswalk, or a pedestrian crossing. They need to look both ways and make sure they\u2019re absolutely positive a car isn\u2019t coming before they cross.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aside from obeying the law, the high volume of children on the streets is reason enough to lower your speed.<\/p>\n You shouldn\u2019t be speeding down residential streets in the first place, but you should reduce your speed more than usual. This makes it easier to see any children who might suddenly run out in front of you.<\/p>\n The most common trick or treat times<\/a> are between 5:30pm and 9:30pm. If you are going anywhere during this time, be on the lookout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Costumes should be as comfortable as possible and not pose any threat to your child\u2019s safety. Pants and skirts should be hemmed so they don\u2019t drag on the ground. Weapons or other accessories should be as soft as possible so no one gets hurt.<\/p>\n A costume that\u2019s too constraining isn\u2019t a good idea, either, because sometimes it can get really cold by October 31 and you\u2019ll need to make sure there are layers underneath that outfit.<\/p>\n At the very least, make sure your kids are wearing comfortable shoes<\/a>. If they put up a fight, tell them they can get more candy because they\u2019ll be able to walk longer.<\/p>\n For example, if your little one wants to go as Cinderella, let her wear the blue dress, but skip the glass slippers. At least her feet won\u2019t get sore after just a few minutes of walking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take more time than you normally would to look out for kids<\/a> while you\u2019re driving. This seems like an obvious rule, but if you\u2019re not into Halloween, you might forget what it\u2019s like to be a child running around in a pirate costume. You don\u2019t exactly remember all of the safety rules.<\/p>\n Be aware that it\u2019s your responsibility to make sure you\u2019ve double checked every direction before you turn or head on through an intersection. Take extra precautions when you\u2019re pulling in and out of driveways, too.<\/p>\n Children are fast, and just because you checked one direction already doesn\u2019t mean they won\u2019t come from out of nowhere.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most of us prefer to burn real candles in our Jack-O-Lanterns because it\u2019s just so much more authentic and spooky.<\/p>\n But those candles can be a fire hazard for kids<\/a> coming in and out of your porch. All it takes is one princess skirt or superhero cape to graze the flame and a child could be seriously injured.<\/p>\n Reduce your risk of being negligent by making sure that, if you have a real candle, your pumpkin won\u2019t be in the way.<\/p>\n To be sure your own child isn\u2019t at risk while they trick or treat, make sure their costume is flame retardant and isn\u2019t made of flammable materials.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Teach your kids not to ring the doorbell if the porch or entrance light isn\u2019t on.<\/p>\n Firstly, they might not be home. Secondly, you can\u2019t see your kids very well when they get to the door. Anyone who is welcoming trick or treaters will have the light on so they can see where they\u2019re going.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re driving, the main streets will be less crowded with groups of trick or treaters than the side streets.<\/p>\n Even if it cuts a lot of time off your journey, avoid cutting through residential areas while kids are out trick or treating. This cuts back the risk<\/a> of hitting a child.<\/p>\n Skip your usual shortcut, just for today. It could save a life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Drivers will have a harder time seeing your child if their costume is completely dark. While this time of year is known for the black, spooky costumes and the creepy-crawly decor, it\u2019s also dangerous at night.<\/p>\n Avoid letting them wear dark costumes, or at the very least add reflective tape<\/a> or give them a glow stick. Put reflective tape on their accessories, too.<\/p>\n This way, cars will at least see parts of your child and know that something is walking around near them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some children love to get into character, as they sneak and slither or pop out of bushes to scare their friends. This can be super fun, and getting scared is all part of the day.<\/p>\n But make sure they only do this on the sidewalk- never on or near the road. Teach them that the sidewalk is life and to stay on there as much as possible, for their own safety.<\/p>\n They shouldn\u2019t be on their own if they don\u2019t understand this yet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of people out there who think that contaminated Halloween candy is a myth, or an outdated concept. In fact, CBC reported that<\/a> the majority of tampered Halloween candy reports are actually hoaxes, and that no child has actually gotten sick or died from tainted candy in their trick or treat bag.<\/p>\n However, when it comes to your kid\u2019s health and safety, no risk is worth taking.<\/p>\n Be on the lookout for candy that looks like it\u2019s been unwrapped or anything that isn\u2019t wrapped at all. At the very least, train your child to be cautious about what they eat instead of scarfing down as much as possible before bedtime.<\/p>\n Even if you don\u2019t think tampered candy is a real thing, it\u2019s a good idea to sort through the candy before your child does if they\u2019re allergic to anything that could be in there, like nuts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Halloween isn\u2019t just for the children. Many adults love to enjoy a good Halloween party, where they indulge in spirits of a different nature.<\/p>\n There are so many ways to avoid drinking and driving<\/a> it\u2019s absurd that anyone still makes this extremely dangerous decision.<\/p>\n Call a cab, get a friend to be your designated driver, take a bus, or even sleep over for the night. The less drunk drivers we have on the streets, the safer we all are.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Accidents happen. But sometimes they\u2019re caused by someone\u2019s negligence, and that\u2019s when it\u2019s time to get compensation.<\/p>\n If your child is hurt on Halloween because a driver or homeowner was negligent, you might have a case. You and your child shouldn\u2019t have to suffer because someone else made a stupid mistake.<\/p>\n Conte Jaswal\u2019s team of experienced, empathetic personal injury lawyers in Toronto and the GTA will make sure you get the settlement you deserve. We\u2019ll fight for you to make sure you aren\u2019t being taken advantage of in court.<\/p>\n1. Don\u2019t Let Kids Use Sharp Pumpkin Carving Tools<\/h3>\n
![\"jack-o-lantern-carving-hazards-safety-children-halloween-whitby-oshawa\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-6.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Plan Your Route Ahead of Time and Make Sure Your Children Know it Well<\/h3>\n
![\"halloween-trick-or-treating-safe-route-oshawa-whitby-vaughn\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-13.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Avoid Letting Kids Wear Masks<\/h3>\n
![\"safety-costumes-trick-or-treaters-kids-hazards-night-halloween-whitby\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Keep Kids in a Group<\/h3>\n
![\"safe-halloween-costumes-for-kids-parents-guide-gta-toronto\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Take The Route With The Fewest Street Crossings<\/h3>\n
![\"sidewalks-halloween-walking-safety-caution-hazards\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-15.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Slow Down While Driving<\/h3>\n
![\"halloween-driving-caution-kids-trick-or-treating-residential-area-toronto-gta\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-14.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Keep Costumes Comfortable<\/h3>\n
![\"safe-halloween-costumes-for-kids-hazards-trick-or-treating\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Look Both Ways\u2026 Twice<\/h3>\n
![\"trick-or-treating-kids-driving-safety\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Don\u2019t Leave Your Jack-O-Lantern Where Someone Could Trip on it<\/h3>\n
![\"jack-o-lantern-fire-hazard-halloween-safety\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. Only Ring The Door Where the Light is on<\/h3>\n
![\"halloween-houses-lighting-safety-trick-or-treating-kids-vaughn\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n11. Avoid Taking Shortcuts Through Residential Areas<\/h3>\n
![\"halloween-trick-or-treat-safety-careful-gta-whitby\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/sidewalk-trick-or-treating.jpg\")
<\/p>\n12. Add Reflective Tape to Darker Costumes<\/h3>\n
![\"visibility-trick-or-treating-kids-safety-halloween-hazards\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n13. Remind Children to Stay on the Sidewalks<\/h3>\n
![\"trick-or-treating-safety-for-kids-and-parents\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-8.jpg\")
<\/p>\n14. Check Your Kids\u2019 Candy, Even The Horror Stories Are Urban Legends<\/h3>\n
![\"halloween-candy-safety-checks-hazards-gta-toronto\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Webp.net-resizeimage-1-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n15. Don\u2019t Drink and Drive<\/h3>\n
![\"drink-and-drive-halloween-safety-caution-family-hazards-fall-toronto-vaughn-whitby-oshawa\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/drink-and-drive-sign.jpg\")
<\/p>\nContact Conte Jaswal if Someone Else Ruins Your Halloween<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/contelawyers.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/cta_3.jpg\")
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