Halloween 101: Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

CLICK HERE to download soundbites, b-roll, script and web article.

For download password, contact ccnewsservice@ccf.org.

CLEVELAND - Halloween is finally here!

And if you’re planning to venture out with your little ones for some trick-or-treating fun, there are some safety tips to consider.

“I would recommend thinking about how your child is going to move in the costume, if it has a lot of hanging parts or things that could be tripped over, if there’s a mask, is that something that could cover their eyes, and also thinking about the weather,” advised Gina Robinson, MD, pediatrician for Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

Dr. Robinson said if your child’s costume is hard to see at night, you should add reflective tape to it or give them a flashlight to carry. You could even use a glowstick.

This will make them easier to spot, especially when crossing the street.

You should also make sure your child isn’t walking around alone.

It’s best to stay in a group and a well-lit area.

This advice is more so for older kids.

While it may be tempting to let your ghost or goblin eat their candy as you're going door-to-door, Dr. Robinson suggests waiting.

It will be much easier to examine each piece when you get back home.

“I do think it's a good idea to have the parent look through the candy and make sure everything looks okay. And then also a lot of kids have food allergies,” said Dr. Robinson. “You want to make sure that you're checking things before they start to eat them so that they don't have a reaction.”

If you’re not up for going trick-or-treating, that’s okay too.

Dr. Robinson said you can do a lot of fun Halloween-themed activities you can do at home, like carving pumpkins and playing games.