A chance to dress up, free candy and fun decorations: Halloween can be a child’s dream holiday. But, costumes that cause irritation, candy overload and dangerous decorations can make Halloween a parent’s nightmare. Paying attention to safety rules on Halloween is important, and so is focusing on safety after October 31 has come and gone. After your kids have returned home from a successful night of trick or treating, here are a few ways to make sure everyone stays safe.
Remove Makeup ASAP
Whether a child went trick or treating as the Hulk, the Joker or another character that required a lot of face paint or makeup, it’s important to make sure he takes that makeup off before hitting the hay for the evening. Left on overnight, the makeup can irritate the skin or cause breakouts. It can also flake off and get into the eyes, irritating them.
How the makeup is removed depends on what’s in it and most products will include instructions for removal on the label. Many require makeup remover or cold cream, although some will wash off with soap and water.
Inspect the Candy
While it’s largely a myth that strangers are trying to poison kids with Halloween candy each year, it’s still a good idea to give your child’s Halloween stash a once over. Look for any wrappers that seem to have been tampered with and toss those candies out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
One risk many parents do have to worry about is that the candy their kids bring home contains things the children are allergic to. Inspect your child’s Halloween haul and discard any candies that contain ingredients your child is allergic to.
Clear Away Decorations
While you probably don’t want to preserve that carved pumpkin or a dried cornstalk arrangement for next year, some decorations, such as strings of lights, are worth saving. Packing up your Halloween decorations properly not only keeps them safe, it can keep your family safe.
Use plastic bins to store the items, as they are more sturdy than cardboard and can resist water in a damp basement. Don’t stack the bins too high, as a wobbly tower can fall over and hurt someone.
It’s a good idea to label each item as you pack it away, so that you know what it is when it’s time to break out the Halloween decorations next year. For example, make sure to label lights for indoor use only as “indoor lights” and your outdoor lights as “outdoor use,” to avoid any dangerous mix-ups.
Halloween might mean spooks and scares, but it doesn’t have to exclude safety. Being careful with candy, costumes and decor will help your family enjoy many Halloweens to come.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
