Welcome to Costume Tips

Pedestrian Safety

If you are driving around during trick-or-treating, slow down in residential areas. In the interest of pedestrian safety watch for children darting out from between parked cars.

Buy Flame Resistant Costumes

Buy flame-resistant costumes or make them from flame-resistance material. Look for the markings on the label, box or material. To prevent clothing ignition, handmade costumes can be flame-proofed: dip fabrics into a solution of 2.5 mL warm water, 200 mL borax and 85 mL boric acid. Drip dry and iron. To preserve flame resistance, this must be repeated after each washing.

Children and Halloween Safety

For Halloween costume safety children should wear comfortable, well-fitted shoes. Clumsy and heavy shoes and Mom's high heels contribute to sore feet, falls, spilled treats, and tears.

Pedestrian Safety for Children

Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain itself can present tripping hazards for extra pedestrian safety.

Pedestrian Kid Safety

Practice pedestrian kid safety by walking on sidewalks, not in the streets. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic. Cross busy streets at intersections or crosswalks. Do not zig-zag across the street going from door to door .

Costume Safety for Costume Accessories

For costume accessories, wigs, beards, whiskers and costume hats should be fastened securely and designed so that they don´t get into youngsters´ eyes, obscuring vision.

Halloween Safety Rules

One Halloween safety rule is that children and adults should wear seat belts. It is the state law. Have children get out of the car on the curb side, away from traffic.

Fitting and Sizing Costumes

When sizing costumes they should be lightweight and fit properly, yet large enough so that warm clothing can be worn underneath if it´s cold outside.

Costume Party Safety

If you are driving to a costume party, do not wear your costume masks while driving. Avoid wearing costumes and costume accessories that may constrict your arm or leg movements too.

Suggested Halloween Safety Rules

Some Halloween safety rules may include giving children an early dinner or meal before they go out, so they won't be tempted to eat much of their candy or other treats before they get home.

Additional Halloween Safety Tips

Keep family pets away while welcoming trick-or-treaters, so they will not frighten the children. People dressed in unique costume ideas may also scare or irritate animals.

Halloween Safety and Children

For Halloween safety and children, never allow children to travel alone or unsupervised. Young children should be accompanied by an adult or responsible older child. Set a time limit if children are old enough to go out with their friends. Know the names of the friends. Give coins and instruct children to call if there is a problem or if they will be late.

Halloween Light Safety

Use light colors, decals or reflective tape for Halloween light safety so that kids are visible at night to motorists. Reflective tape can be purchased at most hardware stores and sporting goods stores.

Safe Costume Make-up and Costume Masks

Costume masks with narrow eye slits obscure a child´s ability to see oncoming traffic, curbs, or obstructed pathways. Facial costume make-up is safer, more fun and more comfortable. If masks are worn, they should have openings for the nose and mouth, and large eye holes to allow full vision. Instruct children to wear the mask on top of the head when walking and pull it over the face only when they reach the destination.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Ideas

If children are using bicycles, they should adjust their costumes and use bicycle pant clips or other means to avoid contact with bike spokes. Bikes should have reflectors, a headlight and a horn or bell. Follow all appropriate traffic rules for bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Make Sure You Inspect Halloween Candy

Examine all treats carefully for unpackaged items, torn packaging, pinholes, off-color odor or questionable appearance when inspecting Halloween candy. Wash fruits and slice them into small pieces, checking for inedible additions. If anything is suspicious about the treats, report it to the police. When in doubt, throw it out.

Halloween Safety Tips When Carving Pumpkins

An adult should supervise or actually do the cutting of the pumpkin, since a sharp, pointed knife is needed. If carving a pumpkin is not appropriate, or if children are very young, one Halloween safety tip is that homemade or store-bought decals can be applied for facial features.

More Halloween Safety Rules

For Halloween safety, never enter cars, homes or apartments unless an accompanying adult approves.