The Fidelis Care Blog

For many children and families, Halloween is a celebration filled with spooky fun. If your Halloween includes traditional trick-or-treating, during daylight or into the evening, please consider these simple tips from Fidelis Care to help ensure a safe and healthy experience for everybody.

Walking safely

• Always walk on well-lit paths or sidewalks.
•  Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks when available.
• Young children should be accompanied by adults for trick-or-treating. Older children should follow walking routes agreed upon by parents and walk in groups (“Halloween buddies”), if possible.
• Practice how to call 9-1-1 in case of emergencies or in cases where children may wander and lose their way.
• Review home phone numbers or cell numbers with children.
• Never enter homes or cars when trick-or-treating.
• Encourage use of flashlights, glow sticks, or reflective tapes for costumes and treat bags.

Costume safety

• Ensure costumes are well-fitting to prevent trips and falls.
• Avoid use of sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as costume accessories.
• Search for costumes and costume accessories (such as wigs) that are flame resistant.
• Consider non-toxic makeup and hats in place of masks, which can obstruct a child’s view.

Halloween goodies

• Give your child a healthy, hearty meal before trick-or-treating to discourage children from filling up on candy.
• Have children wait until they get home to eat treats in order to have an adult inspect all candies. Any torn wrappers or suspicious looking candies should be discarded. There is a new alert to brightly colored Fentanyl pills that can look like candy (https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2022/08/30/dea-warns-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-target-young-americans).
• Consider non-edible treats as trick-or-treating options, especially for children who may have food allergies.
• For those children with food allergies, always read the ingredient label on any treat your child receives to prevent accidental ingestion of offending food allergen(s).