Trick-Or-Treat Night Safety

With trick-or-treat happening in a couple weeks, it is important to review safety tips with family and friends to ensure that nothing too spooky goes on this Halloween night. The days are getting shorter and the sun is setting surprisingly early, leaving more time for hazard…not to mention the continual rise is COVID-19 cases.

Dangerous incidents happen to people of all ages, but the young are less educated on how to handle certain situations. It is crucial to relay safety tips to little siblings, cousins, and neighbors because one preventative step can go a long way.

“Children love Halloween because of the costumes and treats. But the holiday also brings serious safety risks. Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as they are other nights of the year. Burns and cuts also are common on Halloween, and then there are problems caused by candy,” said the Mayo Clinic staff.

Staying on the sidewalk is a key safety tip for trick-or-treating, as walking in alleys, streets, and yards puts several people at risk. The sidewalk is a central location, so threatening actions can be seen and stopped by other trick-or-treaters or residents.

“Don’t let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Feed your child an early meal before heading out, and inspect the treats before your child eats them. Discard anything that’s not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable,” stated the Mayo Clinic.

Although it is hard to contain that huge craving for sweet treats, be sure to inspect candies before consumption. Unwrapped and tampered goodies are a rare occurrence, but give them a good examination just in case. Check over all candies at home in a well-lit area; don’t eat anything while trick-or-treating.

On top of the precautions that kids must take each year, there are also COVID-19 concerns for this Halloween night. Dr. Joe Gastaldo, the infectious disease medical director for OhioHealth, warns citizens that the virus is still present.

“I would caution a little bit if there were four different households getting together with 12 different kids on top of each other. If there’s a crowded situation where you don’t know who’s vaccinated and who’s not on top of each other, that can be a riskier scenario. But, still, that’s safer than being indoors,” said Dr. Gastaldo.

Being outside reduces the transmission of the virus, but be aware of who is around. It is crucial to take extra precautions this year when taking siblings or friends trick-or-treating. COVID-19 cases are on the rise, and creeps are still out at night. Keep an eye out for suspicious situations and react accordingly.