The scariest and sweetest time of the year is finally here. Kids young and old from all over Oakland County will be celebrating Halloween. It’s important to stay safe while trick-or-treating in your local neighborhood. Check out these safety tips to ensure your Halloween outing is safe and filled with treats before you head out.

Trick-or-Treaters

• Consider adding reflective tape to a child’s costume to allow for greater visibility.
• Test makeup on a small section of the skin before applying to the face to avoid large allergic reactions.
• Size your child’s costume correctly to fit over winter clothes. Halloween will be chilly this year, with highs in the low 40s.
• Swords, canes, and all props should be flexible and small enough that they will not cause harm.
• Take a flashlight to better see walking obstacles.
• Walk on sidewalks when possible so as not to trip on lawn decorations, stumps, or other obstacles.
• Don’t trick-or-treat alone! Always bring someone along or take a group.
• Don’t allow trick-or-treaters to enter the home of a stranger. Tell the children they can and should wait outside.
• Examine all treats before consumption for allergy needs and candy that has been tampered with.
• Remove all makeup before bed to avoid mess and irritation.

Homeowners

• If you’re offering allergy-friendly candy, let trick-or-treaters know with a teal pumpkin on the front porch.
• Remove all lawn decorations that could be hazardous to excited trick-or-treaters.
• Make sure all animals are safely locked away to avoid scaring the animals and children. This will also prevent animals from sneaking out an open door.
• Use battery operated candles or Jack-O-Lanterns when possible and keep them away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains.

More Halloween safety tips from the CDC can be found here.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office also released a statement on being safe and aware this Halloween. In addition, they are running “Treats for Troops” candy drive. All homeowners and trick-or-treaters looking to get rid of extra Halloween treats can donate non-chocolate candy to the Sheriff’s Office for our soldiers overseas.

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