Keep Kids Safe While Trick-or-Treating in Cumming for Halloween

Trick-or-treating is the perfect way to make magical memories with your children on Halloween. But it's not all fun and games—you also want to keep your kids safe.

Mom Kim Estes makes it her mission to help parents keep their kids out of harm's way all year round. Estes, a certified child safety educator and sexual abuse prevention specialist, founded Savvy Parents, Safe Kids to teach parents strategies for how to be prepared and protect their children as much as possible.

Estes said parents should make sure that costumes are safe from hazards this Halloween by making a few easy modifications.

“Make sure their costumes are not too long and causing a tripping hazard, and that swords or knives are made of soft, pliable plastic because they will have a sword or knife fight with the neighbor kids," she said.

Estes said that when trick-or-treating, kids should only approach well-lit homes and should not enter any house unless accompanied by an adult that they know. They should also figure out their route ahead of time and stick to it and use the buddy system. An adult should always accompany young children, she added.

“Remind kids to be alert for vehicles, stay on the sidewalk whenever possible and look both ways before crossing,” Estes said. Older kids and teenagers should also head out with a buddy and be smart about safety, she said.

Halloween decorations can become fire hazards if used without care, Estes warned.

“Use battery-operated 'candles' in pumpkins on Halloween night. Children are not paying attention and crowd together at the front door and costumes can easily be brushed up against open flames,” she said.

Trick-or-treating with the family dog or cat can be fun, but families should take precautions, she said.

“Adults should also be careful when taking pets along when trick-or-treating, or having pets at the door when trick-or-treaters arrive. Masks and other costumes can be frightening to pets and can cause them to act aggressively if frightened," she said. "If you are unsure, test your pet's comfort level by trying on a mask and see how they respond.”

Estes recommends Wag-N-Train’s website for more Halloween safety tips for kids and pets. There are also pointers for how to stay safe and sane during the post-Halloween holidays.

Once you have a hazard-free costume put together and have reviewed safety rules with your children, it’s time to have some Halloween fun!

Here are some additional Halloween Safety Tips from Fire Chief Danny Bowman and the Forsyth County Fire Department:

Before heading out for Halloween:

• Wear bright and reflective costumes. Ensure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Add reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Plan ahead to use only battery-powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
• This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
• Review with your children the principle of "stop-drop-roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
• Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
• Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an adult or office party.

 Before Nightfall on Halloween:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
• While children can help with the fun of designing a jack o' lantern, leave the carving to adults.
• Always keep jack o' lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
• Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
• Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
• Adult partygoers should establish a designated driver.

 DURING TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Remind trick-or-treaters:
  • Use a flashlight, so you can see and can be seen by others.
  • Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
  • Only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods at homes that have on a porch light.
  • Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
  • If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
  • Never cut across yards.
  • Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
  • Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
  • Always walk. Never run across a street.
  • Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
  • Do not assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, does not mean others will stop.
  • Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
  • No treats should be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an adult at home.
  • Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. A responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies) are given only to those of an appropriate age.