October is the month of Breast Cancer and Fire Safety Awareness. But we all know that October is the month to prepare for one of the most anticipated holiday events of the year. Halloween is celebrated among all ages. Whether you’re taking the kids out for some good old trick-or-treating or having your own Halloween costume party, it’s a day to dress up as your favorite cartoon or movie character. Before you get all excited and are ready to party, there are a few things you should remind yourself and prepare for when you go out. Halloween has always been one of the most celebrated annual events, but your fun can be ruined by not thinking safety first. Many tragic accidents have happened in the past that prevents people from enjoying the holiday. That’s why remembering to take all the safety precautions will keep you and your family safe and enjoy the rest of the evening. Here are a few friendly reminders to stay safe this upcoming Halloween.

First, we’ll talk about a few costume ideas. Many of us would love to go all out with our costumes, adding every detail to make it look more authentic and noticeable for everyone. But we also have to consider the safety of our own costumes.

Costumes:

• Try looking for costumes that have bright colors or are reflective. This will make it easier for you or your kids to be seen at night when crossing the streets or in dark neighborhoods.
• If your costume isn’t bright you can try other alternatives such as adding reflective tape to your costumes or on your trick-or-treat bags. This will provide better visibility for everyone to see.
• Wear comfortable shoes and costumes that are primarily short. You wouldn’t want your costume to be touching the ground that could cause you to trip and fall or even catch on fire.
• Vision is also very important for all costume participants. Sometimes masks don’t fit right blocking or limiting your eyesight. Other alternatives to consider is trying make-up or wearing hats. Make sure the hat is the right size so it doesn’t obstruct your vision.
• As October is also fire safety month, it’s only necessary you search for fire resistant costumes. Other accessories such as wigs should be flame resistant and usually has a label indicating that it is.
• We all love to carry props with our costumes. It’s what makes the costume complete. If you or your child is carrying a prop like a sword, cane or stick, you just want to make sure it’s not too long or sharp. In case your child trips they can hurt themselves or others around them.
• Most importantly, carry a flashlight with you and make sure you test it to see if it works. Insert some new batteries if it doesn’t work. You don’t want to end up going out, especially in dark areas without a working flashlight.
• If any of your children get lost or have an emergency, make sure they know how to call 911.

 Homes:

• As much as you want to show off how scary the front of your house looks by making it dark, you might want to consider providing a decent amount of light for the trick-or-treaters, especially for the children.
• Also make sure there’s a clear pathway to your door. You wouldn’t want anyone tripping over toys, plants, bikes or garden hoses.
• If you have any pets, make sure they are restrained and not running over children. They might get the wrong impression because of people’s costumes.

Trick-Or-Treaters:

• Parents and responsible adults should always accompany children when going out to trick-or-treat.
• If you have older children who plan on going with friends, make sure they have a cell phone to contact you in case of an emergency. Have a specific route they must follow and a specific time they should be home.
• Never go to homes that don’t have lights on their porch.
• Always use the sidewalk and try to stay on a well-lit path.
• Always use the crosswalk when possible and cross in groups.
• If you have younger children, it is recommended that you try to start early while there’s still sunlight. It won’t be too dark and you’ll get home earlier.