Safety tips for Children on Halloween

1. Test make-up in a small area of skin first. With all of the different artificial ingredients out there in make-up and cosmetics now it's important to test out the make-up you are choosing to use on your child before applying it to their face. There are many ingredients in make up such as toxic heavy metals that can cause an allergic reaction. Make sure to avoid cosmetics that have lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury in them to keep your child's skin safe. If you wish to avoid the hassle of dealing with Halloween make-up opt for a costume which doesn't require any.

2. Make sure your child can see. This one seems obvious but is oftentimes over looked when planning a fun, festive costume however it is important to make sure your child can see out of their costume and their vision is not obstructed by anything getting in the way of their eyes. By ensuring you have this part of their costume figured out you will avoid many accidents and falls that could happen easily.

3. Don't let your child trick-or-treat without an adult. Depending on the age of your child and area of town you live in, you will want to attend trick-or-treating with your child so they are not out by themselves. Never let your child trick-or-treat on their own or without a responsible adult to go with them to each house.

4. Be mindful of allergies. If your child has an allergy to gluten, corn, soy or dairy you will need to consider what candies and treats they can consume and sort through them before your child starts eating candy. If you are not bringing a child to trick-or-treat I highly suggest you consider looking into allergy-friendly options for the kids coming to your home who have allergies and dietary restrictions so they can enjoy the holiday too.

5. Bring a flashlight. If you are planning on taking your children trick-or-treating after 5:00PM, it's key to make sure to bring a flashlight for walking around in the dark. By doing so you will not only be able to see better as you are walking around but you'll also stand out more to any cars driving in your neighborhood. Another way to make sure you are able to be seen by others is to wear light clothing which will be reflected off of any light sources.

6. Always walk on the sidewalk and not in the middle of the street. Never walk in the middle of the streets in your neighborhood, yes even on Halloween, as you are a target for cars driving by. If you live in a neighborhood with sidewalks then take advantage of them and stay out of the road.

7. Use battery-operated candles in jack-o-lanterns. Using battery-operated candles in your jack-o-lanterns and other Halloween decorations which require lighting will help to eliminate any fire hazards or accidents that could potentially happen. Even if you are not taking children trick-or-treating this year consider using battery-operated lights instead of real candles so you can keep everyone out of harms way including yourself.

8. Examine all treats before eaten - and stick to the commercially wrapped ones! Be sure to check through the candy that your children receive on Halloween for any tears or openings. Do not allow them to eat any homemade treats unless it is from someone you trust as you do not know what kind of ingredients could be in them. Always be sure to err on the side of caution when eating and accepting any Halloween candy and be sure to only eat treats that are commercially wrapped.