Halloween Events & Safety Tips

Kids love the magic of Halloween, but costume and traffic safety are essential for trick-or-treaters. These tips can help make a safe and happy holiday for everyone.

School & Community Partner Events

• Wed Oct 22, 5:00-7:00 PM - Brennen Fall Festival
• Sat Oct 24, 11:00 AM-3:00 PM - Bear-Glasgow YMCA Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
• Sat Oct 24, 4:00-6:00 PM - Western Family YMCA Fall Fest
• Wed Oct 28, 5:00-6:00 PM - Kirk Trunk or Treat
• Wed Oct 28, 5:30 PM - Newark HS Trunk or Treat
• Wed Oct 28, 6:30 PM - Newark HS Concert
• Thur Oct 29, 5:30-7:30 PM - Leasure Trunk or Treat
• Thu Oct 29, 6:00-8:00 PM - Downtown YMCA Trunk or Treat (Walnut Street YMCA)
• Sat Nov 7, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM - Shue-Medill Fall Festival

Costumes, Candy, and Colored Contact Lenses

To help ensure adults and children have a safe holiday, fda.gov has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips. Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that won't cause safety hazards.

• Wear costumes that say “flame resistant” on the label.
• Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible
• Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision.
• Test the makeup you plan to use at least 24-48 hours in advance.
• Vibrantly colored makeup is popular at Halloween. Check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors are FDA approved.
• Don’t wear decorative (colored) contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury.

Safe Treats

Eating sweet treats is also a big part of Halloween fun. If you're concerned about food safety, there are some things to know. Before you or your children go trick-or-treating, remember these tips:

• Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
• Eat a snack before heading out to avoid the temptation of nibbling on a treat before it has been inspected.
• In case of a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Tell children not to accept — or eat — anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
• Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags.
• Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

When They're on the Prowl

Keep these tips in mind when your children are out on Halloween night:

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
• Agree on a specific time children should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends

Safety Tips for Motorists

The National Safety Council offers these additional safety tips for parents – and anyone who plans to be on the road during trick-or-treat hours:

• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween

Sources:

• National Safety Council - https://www.nsc.org
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration - https://www.fda.gov