I don’t want this to scare you from having a great Halloween, I just want you to take a moment to watch this short video with some Halloween Safety Tips, and read the rest of the tips to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe holiday.

Watch this Halloween Safety Tips Video:

Ten Trick or Treat Safety Tips

1. Know the neighborhood you and your kids, or your kids (if they are old enough), will be trick or treating in.  I know sometimes people don’t have the best choices, but if you can choose a safer area to begin with, you have just eliminated possible risks associated with the bad parts of town.  Planning your route, and knowing the route your older kids will take, as well as setting a time for older kids to be home can decrease the anxiety of your kids being out by themselves.  (Parents need to make sure their child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves or friends of the same age.)

2. Young children should always have a responsible adult with them.  If kids are going in a group, which often makes trick or treating a lot more fun, make sure you have several adults to keep an eye out for the group.  As many parents already know, watching a group can be a chore, but on Halloween, in the dark, with other kids running about too, it only makes sense to have several eyes on your group of kids.  Plus, it gives the adults someone to talk with.  (Just don’t get so carried away talking that you don’t pay attention to your trick or treaters.)

3. Try to stick to the sidewalks of well lit streets.  Avoid cutting through back alleys and fields.  It is always better to stay in the well-lit populated areas.  Make sure older kids going out alone know they should avoid these fringe areas and stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around.  Also, only trick or treat at those houses with lights on and that look inviting to trick or treaters.  If you are in a well populate area, you’ll know because all the groups of kids will be going to the same lit up houses.

4. While we are talking about streets, make sure you pay attention when crossing streets.  It can be exciting to zig-zag back and forth to hit houses on both sides, but be careful when crossing the road.  And while drivers should be careful, especially on Halloween with a lot of kids out running around, some might not be, and it is important to be careful and not get hit by a car.  Even if the driver is wrong, it is the person or child getting hit that will be hurt.

5. To help cars see your kids, and for you to see them, use glow sticks, lights, etc. to identify and make them more visible.  You may wish to put a glow stick bracelet around ankles or wrists to help identify them as well as make them visible.  Glow sticks come in a wide variety (see picture) these days, and they are cheap, so use them.  (The ones in the picture were all purchased at the Dollar Tree for $1.00 each.)

6. If your town or city sets a curfew for trick or treating, you should follow it.  These curfews help people know when to expect people at the door, and are designed to help make the holiday more safe and enjoyable for everyone.

7. Adults should carry a flash light with charged batteries and a charged cell phone.  Make sure emergency numbers are programed in or you know how to quickly dial them if needed.  Older kids that are out by themselves should have a flashlight and cell phone.  It’s also a great idea to take a picture of your child with your cell phone in case something happens and you are separated.  You’ll have a photo to show police and others rather than trying to describe your child from memory.

8. Make sure you children know to NEVER go into a stranger’s home or car.  Also, never drink any beverages from anyone.  Take along your own water bottle or wait till you get home.

9. Never eat any candy until you have gotten home and gone through it.  Toss anything that has been opened. One tip is to run a magnet over the candy and packages to check for pins, razor blades, etc.  If you find any such item, or something wrong with the candy, notify the police right away.  I’ve read where some people throw out everything received from trick or treating and then give their children their favorite candy that they purchased themselves to eliminate any risk of tampered with treats.  I’ve never done this, but it is an option.

10. Monitor how much of the safe candy your child eats.  A few sweets after a long walk of trick or treating are not going to hurt, but too much can ruin a fun night by causing a tummy ache or worse.  It’s also just good practice to teach kids to eat healthy and not to indulge too much, even on holidays.  Plus, eating candy in small amounts makes the night’s rewards last longer.

Four Tips for Staying at Home on Halloween Night

Halloween is a night full of people going door to door in costumes or disguises.  It’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it is also an environment that makes it easier for criminals to approach your door and have you open it up for them. It’s the one time of year where an intruder can walk right up to your door to rob you or worse, and you open if for him.  So to be more safe, here are a few tips and suggestions for staying at home on Halloween night.

1. Don’t stay at home alone.  It’s more fun to spend a holiday with friends anyway, right?  Well, it’s safer too.  It’s always better to not be alone when answering the door for trick or treaters.

2. Look outside before answering the door. Just as you would normally, or should anyway, check before opening the door.

3. If you want trick or treaters coming to your door, make sure you have the lights on.  The better lit, the better.

4. Unfortunately, pranksters will be about on Halloween, and to minimize mischief at your house, put cars inside garages if you have one, and then lock the garage doors.  Don’t leave things in the yard that might invite mischievous youngsters into making your home the target of one of their pranks.

Awareness is Still Key for Halloween Safety!

Awareness is still one of the most important ingredients to your Halloween safety.  If you haven’t downloaded and read my free guide to Awareness, please do so now.  You can download this guide by entering your e-mail on the right side of this blog. (You will get the e-book 25 Safety and Self-Defense Tips and the Awareness Guide) This information is important for all times, and it is especially important to be aware on Halloween.  Pay attention when you are out and about.  Watch for vehicles that might be slowly approaching you or your child.  Watch for adults out without children that want to approach you or your child.  Don’t be distracted by your cell phone or iPod.  Just pay attention and be aware.  You’ll see more of the fun and cute costumes and decorations that way too.  Learn about colors white and yellow of the situational awareness code in this video!  Remeber, you should always be at level yellow when you are out and about.

Also remember to always listen to that little voice that tells you something isn’t right.  If you think or feel something isn’t safe, leave immediately and get to someplace that is safe.  Way too often police here victims say, “I knew something wasn’t right…”

Halloween can be such a happy and fun time, and it is sad that some people want to use this holiday as an opportunity to hurt others by being mean, mischievous and criminal. Taking a few simple precautions can help you and your loved ones have a safe and happy Halloween.

To Everyone: Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Safety Speaker and Hapkido Self-Defense Instructor Alain Burrese looks forward to having a Safe and Happy Halloween with his daughter, the little Stealth Ninja Warrior.

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