Top Halloween Safety Tips (For Kids, Drivers, And Pets)

A fun Halloween night shouldn’t turn into an ER visit. Here’s a concise, evidence-backed guide to common Halloween risks, and how to avoid them.

Kids Halloween Safety: Trick-or-Treating Basics

Halloween amps up excitement (and unpredictability) around roads, driveways, and front steps. A few simple habits, like smart street-crossing, high-visibility gear, and well-fitting costumes, go a long way toward keeping kids safe while they collect candy.

Street smarts

• Cross the street at corners and use crosswalks at all times. Always try to make eye contact with drivers before you cross.
• Put electronic devices, like phones, down so you are staying vigilant of what’s coming your way.
• Never run across the street.
• Always walk on sidewalks. If there are none, then walk facing traffic on the far left of the road.
• Children aged 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating. Older kids who are unsupervised should be told to stick to well-lit, familiar routes.

Be Seen (visibility)

• Add retroreflective tape/stickers to your kids costumes and treat bags. Choose light colours where possible. You can even give your child a flashlight or glow stick to carry with them.
• You can find visibility items for kids at places like Target or Walmart. Sporting Goods stores sell retroflective gear and hardware/craft stores usually sell reflective tape.

Costumes & Makeup

• If possible, opt for facepaint/makeup over Halloween masks. Masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision.
• Choose non-toxic products and avoid decorative contact lenses without an Rx.
• When choosing costumes, ensure they fit properly, to avoid trips and falls.

Candy Safety

• Check treats before allowing your kids to eat them, and look for signs of tampering.
• Kids should only eat candy that is in its original wrappers. Discard anything unwrapped, torn, or suspicious.
• Watch out for food allergies.

Pet Safety Tips

From candy bowls to flickering jack-o’-lanterns, Halloween adds hidden risks for pets. Use these simple safeguards to prevent tummy troubles, burns, escapes, and costume-related stress.

High-Risk Foods & Ingredients

• Chocolate, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Keep candy bowls closed and up high. If your pet has ingested any chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Xylitol is found in some sugar-free candies and it can be extremely toxic to pets. Even a small amount can be fatal. Store all sugar-free products out of reach. According to the ASPCA, urgent vet care is warranted if you believe your pet has eaten anything with xylitol in it.
• Raisins can trigger acute kidney failure in dogs, treat any ingestion as an emergency.

Decor Hazards

• Candles/jack-o-lanters can burn pets or start fires. Consider using LED alternatives.
• Electrical cords can cause mouth burns in pets if chewed. Prevent this by running wires through pet-proofing materials, like PVC.
• Fake cobwebs, used for spider-web decorating, can obstruct intenstines it eaten by pets. Keep them high up and out of reach.
• Glow sticks are typically non-toxic but taste extremely bitter to pets. Cats that bite them may drool or act frantic. It a glow stick is punctured by a pet, wipe residue off fur and offer a treat or milk to stop the reaction.
• Rotting pumpkins can cause upset stomachs for your pets. You should always promptly discard of moldy decor.

Pet costumes (only if they love it)

• While they may look cute, pet costumes can cause stress for your pets.
• Ensure there is no restriction of breathing, vision, movement, or barking/meowing.
• Avoid costumes with small/dangly pieces to prevent choking hazards or intestinal blockages.
• Check that the costume fits properly to avoid chaffing, red spots, or sores.
• Remove the costume immediately if your pet shows signs of distress (lip-licking, tucked tail, hiding, pacing, excessive vocalizing).

Pet Escapes & Anxiety

• During trick-or-treating peak times, create a quiet room away from the front door for pets.
• Give cats or dogs their favorite toys, like a long-lasting chew to keep them calm and happy.
• Use gates/crates as needed to ensure nervous pets don’t dart out of your home.
• Keep pet IDs/microchips current and consider a reflective collar in case your pet escapes and you need to locate them after-dark.

Pet Emergency Numbers

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; (888) 426-4435 (24/7, fee may apply).
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (24/7, fee may apply).
• U.S. Poison Control (humans): 1-800-222-1222

Driving Safety On Halloween

As sidewalks fill with costumed kids, neighborhood driving gets unpredictable fast. These quick habits, like slower speeds, early headlights, zero phone use, and extra checks at crossings and driveways, dramatically cut crash risk.

• Slow your speed down in residential areas. Expect unpredictable movement from kids.
• Take extra looks at inersections, mediand, and curbs. The NHTSA recommends that drivers use headlights earlier in the day, to improve visibility and to spot children at greater distances.
• Put your phone away when driving, so you can concentrate on your surroundings.
• Enter/exit driveways with extreme caution (driveway back-overs are a known risk).
• The most popular time for trick-or-treaters is between 5:30-9:30pm. Drivers should be hyper-vigilant during this time window.
• Plan a sober ride if celebrating. Alcohol impairment spikes crash risk on Halloween.

Home Decoration Safety

Festive setups can turn tricky once the sun sets and foot traffic picks up. A few placement tweaks, like flameless lighting, tidy cords, clear walkways, and scare props kept away from stairs, keep the vibe spooky, not risky.

• Swap real flames for battery tea lights in pumpkins and window displays, to prevent fires.
• Tape down cords in the home and keep walkways clear and lit to prevent fires.
• Place motion props/sound effects away from stairs and door thresholds to avoid startle-falls.