MONROE — Halloween can be a spooky and fun filled night. Don’t let it be a scary one. Take precautions to ensure your child’s safety and the safety of other’s this ghoulish holiday. 

Creating The Costumes

While dressing up in the most authentic costumes are very important to young children, the holiday traditions can cause some safety hazards if proper attire isn’t worn.

●  Check weather ahead of trick-or-treating to account for cold or wet conditions and adjust costume accordingly.

●  Make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.

●  Discourage any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory which may create injury upon falling.

●  Wear costumes that say “flame resistant” on the label. If homemade costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.

●  Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape to more visible. Carry glowsticks to be seen by drivers.

●  Avoid costume masks that can obscure your vision; instead opt for makeup and hats rather than

●  Test the makeup you plan to use in advance. Put a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, that’s a sign of a possible allergy.

●  Vibrantly colored makeup is popular at Halloween. Check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.

●  Avoid wearing decorative or colored contact lenses that appear to change how the eyes look, unless you have seen an eye care professional for a proper fitting and been given instructions for how to use the lenses.

Take care to steer clear of stereotypes and accessories that can be considered cultural appropriation or the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society. Admiration for favorite characters can be easily mistaken for culture appropriation such as Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas, Princess Tiana, Mulan, Black Panther, Maui, and Moana. Avoid wearing:

●  Culturally significant tattoos

●  Sombreros, ponchos, mustaches or anything that depicts a Hispanic stereotype

●  Native American feathers or anything depicting Native Americans

●  A bindi or things depicting Indian heritage and beliefs

●  Box braids, dreadlocks, Fulani braids, also known as cornrows

●  Hijabs or other attire that can be related back to Arab or Middle Eastern cultures

●  Gender and sexuality depictions

●  Costumes relating to mental illness and eating disorders

●  Historic tragedies such as the Holocaust 

●  Homelessness

●  Sexual harassment

●  Body shaming and objectifying

●  Animal cruelty

●  Social movements such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too

●  Covid-19

●  Recently deceased celebrities and icons as zombies

●  Cosplaying violent historic figures such as Hitler and ISIS leaders

On The Trick-Or-Treat Trail

According to Safe Kids World Wide, children, on average are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. 

●  Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating.

●  If children are older and going alone, plan and review an acceptable route 

●  Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.

●  Stay in a group.

●  Only go to homes with a porch light on.

●  Never to enter a stranger’s home or car.

●  Review with children how to call 9-1-1 if they get lost or an accident occurs.

●  Remind kids to cross the street at corners or crosswalks. 

●  Never cut across yards or use alleys; never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.

●  Do not assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean all the others will.

●  Do not focus on electronic devices while walking or crossing the street.

●  Agree on a specific time children should return home.

●  Drivers should slow down and be alert. Kids are excited on Halloween and may dart into the street. Turn on headlights early in the day to spot kids from further away

Savoring Safe Sweets

●  Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.

●  Eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it has been inspected.

●  In case of a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Tell children not to accept—or eat—anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.

●  Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags.

●  Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

●  Avoiding eating all the goodies gathered and ration out candy to be healthy and circumvent sugar highs and crashes.