Sincerely, Simpson

Halloween is an exciting time for kids, pets and adults alike. It is important to keep safety in mind through all the excitement. Below are some general safety tips on how to keep your children and pets safe on Halloween.

 

KIDS

WALK SAFELY
Be sure kids are safe when crossing the street by using crosswalks and obeying traffic signals. Put down electronic devices and look both ways (left, right and left again) before crossing the street. Educate kids about the danger of darting out in front of (or behind) moving cars. They should always stay on the sidewalk and be cautious of cars entering (or exiting) driveways and alleys.

 

STAY WITH AN ADULT OR IN A GROUP
Young children should always be accompanied/supervised by an adult. Older children who are mature enough to go out on their own should stay in groups and remain in familiar areas of the neighborhood.

 

SAFETY IDEAS FOR COSTUMES

• Use reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights or bright colored costumes so drivers can see children when crossing the street.
• Face paint or makeup is more ideal than masks which can obstruct a child’s view.
• Costumes should fit properly to avoid potential injuries caused by trips and falls.

 

DRIVE SAFELY
Most kids get excited to go trick-or-treating so be extra cautious when driving. They may dart out into traffic or get distracted while walking in a group and forget to look both ways before crossing the street.

 

Find more Halloween safety tips for kids on safekids.org.

 

PETS

KEEP PETS AWAY FROM CANDY AND TREATS
All forms of chocolate and certain sugar substitutes are toxic to dogs and cats. Keep the goodies out of the reach of your pets.

 

BE MINDFUL OF DECORATIONS
Decorations with cords and the candles used in jack-o-lanterns pose potential dangers to pets. Be mindful of where your decorations are setup, so your furry friends don’t trip over or tip over decorations.

 

CHECK PET COSTUMES
Plan on trying out pet costumes ahead of time. Some pets can become distressed when wearing a costume. The ASPCA recommends making sure your pet loves wearing the costume before dressing them up and to be sure:

• the costume does not limit their ability to move.
• the costume does not limit their ability to see.
• the costume does not limit their ability to breathe, bark or meow.
• the costume does not cause any abnormal behavior from your pet.
• the costume does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard.
• the costume fits properly to avoid potential injury.

 

KEEP PETS INSIDE
Some pets are stressed out when people come to the door. Keep them feeling safe by putting them in a separate room where they can’t access the door during peak trick-or-treating hours if this is your pet. Pets that are social and will have access to the door should be kept safe by making sure they are wearing proper identification just in case they dart out the door and escape.