As you and your family prepare costumes and candy bags, officials are reminding those out and about this Halloween how to keep things safe among the spookiness.
To ensure an enjoyable and safe holiday, Walmart recommended keeping the following safety tips in mind:
RELATED: Mississippi ranked as one of spookiest states in America
Costume safety tips
- Dress children in brightly colored or light-colored costumes or clothing. If avoiding dark colors is impossible, place reflective tape on costumes and bags so trick-or-treaters are more visible to drivers at night.
- Parents escorting a group of children might consider wearing a reflective vest so they remain visible to the children and others.
- Use flashlights, or glow sticks for added visibility as it gets dark earlier.
- Make sure costumes and shoes fit properly to prevent trips or falls.
- Masks can dangerously restrict vision. Try using non-toxic makeup to make sure children can see everything happening around them. Don’t forget to remove makeup at the end of the night to prevent any potential allergic reactions or skin irritations.
- Make sure costumes and accessories are either “flame-resistant” or aren’t so long (like a cape, long pieces of fabric or wigs) that could catch fire
- There are different colored buckets/pumpkins that have specific meanings that people should be aware of: teal buckets are used to indicate the children have a food or peanut allergy; blue buckets are used by children to indicate they have autism
- The reusable shopping bags available at most grocery stores are durable alternatives to plastic bags or buckets which could break/tear
Decoration safety tips
- Make sure your porch and front yard are clear of any potential tripping hazards.
- Replace any burned-out bulbs in your outdoor lights.
- Use battery-operated votives instead of lit candles in your Jack-o’-lanterns.
- Secure inflatable Halloween decorations with visible string/rope, tent stakes, and other fasteners.
For more safety tips from the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, click here.
