To help ensure a fun and safe Halloween, here are a few tips and tricks to making sure you and your family gave a safe, spooky and fun holiday! With these things in mind, you're sure to scare up a few smiles this month.

For the safety of your family and others, follow the latest CDC guidelines for masking and social distancing. 

Costumes

Costumes are a great way to celebrate Halloween and get creative! Here are some reminders and tips to keep in mind to ensure your child’s costume is safe.

• Make sure costumes are visible in the dark. You can add reflective tape to costumes, or use a light-colored costume when possible. If the costume has to be black or dark, pair it with a white pillowcase or brightly colored bag for your child to store their treats.
• Make sure costumes are made of flame-retardant materials. Remember, flame-retardant doesn’t mean fire proof, but it’s a good start. In the case of an emergency remember: stop, drop and roll.
• Avoid pointy or sharp accessories. While swords and guns may add effect to the costume, having sharp edges or fake weapons can be dangerous and frightening to others. It’s best to leave them at home all together, but if your child’s costume isn’t complete without one, make sure all edges are dull and that it is clearly a toy.
• Use makeup instead of costume masks. Costume masks can restrict breathing and vision, and shouldn't replace a cloth or surgical mask, so face paint is a good alternative. Make sure to check the ingredients when you buy, and before the big night, swatch it on a patch of skin first to check for any allergic reaction.
  

Treats

Halloween is notorious for two things: tricks and treats. This year, trick your kids into eating healthy treats instead of candy! Here are three great ideas for tasty, healthy treats that are sure to satisfy.

• Citrus jack-o-lanterns - Grab a bag of clementine, oranges or tangerines and a food safe marker. Draw a spooky or smiling face on each - let the kids help! Citrus is full of fiber and vitamin C, and these treats will be perfect as snacks or in lunches all week long.
• Hard boiled ghosts - Boil a dozen eggs and peel them. Then using a clean paint brush and food coloring, create some haunted (or not so haunted) faces on the eggs. Take a dull knife to create some jagged cuts in the bottom of the egg to give it a "sheet" like appearance. These eerie protein filled snacks will certainly be not only fun to eat but nutritious too.
• Banana-pop mummies - Peel and slice bananas into two inch chunks. Taking each chunk, poke a lollipop stick or a kebob skewer into the banana and place them in the freezer. Once the bananas are frozen, dot some caramel onto the banana as glue to create a base for some candy eyes. Once the eyes are secure, drizzle caramel over the rest of the banana and roll it in coconut flakes. You can use an upside down egg carton as a stand to let the bananas (little mummies) dry.
  

According to the CDC, 1 in 13 children (or about 2 students per classroom) have a food allergy. That’s why the Teal Pumpkin Project launched in 2012. Learn more.

Safe Halloween Summary 

In summary, “SAFE HALLOWEEN” is a simple way to remember tips to stay safe this Halloween.
 
S – Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.
A – Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
F – Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags, or wear a blinking light to help drivers see you.
E – Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.
 
H – Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Stay visible to drivers with reflective tape or glow sticks.
A – Always test makeup in a small area of the skin first. Remove before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.
L – Look both ways before crossing the street, use crosswalks where possible and walk, don’t run.
L – Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O – Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible or on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
W – Wear costumes and shoes to avoid blocked visions, trips and falls. Use non-toxic face paint or makeup instead of a mask.
E – Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. Those with food allergies, check for peanut free Halloween candy.
E – Enter a home only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit homes; never stop at a dark house.
N – Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
 
Our partnership with the Center for Childhood Safety allows the opportunity to work closely together on injury prevention programs and keeping our children safe. For more information on this topic and resources on a variety of child safety topics, click here.