Having Fun and Keeping Safe This Halloween

Halloween is all about candy.

And there's one tried and true way to come into a lot of it—trick-or-treating. There's also a lot of prep work involved, with weeks preparing just the right costume...and finding a sack big enough to carry your haul.

But those dark streets, coupled with large groups of kids out and about, encumbered by costumes, could make for a dangerous situation. Between 4 and 10 p.m. on Halloween, there's also a significant increase in falls, burn-related injuries and pedestrian injuries, according to a release from the Prince George's County Fire Department.

Children are four and a half times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other night during the year, according to the release.
Patch spoke with officials from the Anne Arundel County Fire and Police departments about tips to help ensure a safe and happy Halloween:

• Visit homes of neighbors you know or attend community/family Halloween parties.
• Masks obstruct a child’s vision; non-toxic, hypo-allergenic makeup is suggested rather than using a mask.
• Costumes should be flame retardant and not use accessories that cause trip or fall hazards, such as over-sized shoes, long pants or skirts.
• Children trick-or-treating after dusk should carry a flashlight and/or wear reflective trim on their costume.
• Parents should chaperone small children at all times. Older children should travel in groups.
• Stay in groups while trick-or-treating. Make sure that an adult or a responsible person will be supervising young children.
• Always walk. Do not run from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.
• Walk on sidewalks and not in the street. If a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.
• Children should be discouraged from snacking on candy while trick-or-treating, parents should check the treats at home for signs of tampering. Watch for: small pinholes, torn or loose packages. Parents should dispose of candy that might present a choking hazard such as, gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light-colored materials. Strips of reflective tape or glow sticks should be used to make children visible.
• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules prior to your trick-or-treat adventure.
• Teach your children to stop only at homes or apartment buildings that are well lit and to never enter a stranger's home.
• If you are not going with your child, know the neighborhood and route they are taking.
• Motorists need to be alert at all times and be aware of children crossing the street.

Safety at home

• Survey the outside of your home for trip hazards such as, garden hoses, bikes, toy and lawn ornaments. Replace burned out light bulbs and sweep sidewalks and steps of wet leaves.
• Homeowners should keep their homes lit, secure all animals and give out only candy that is wrapped.
• Small children should not carve pumpkins, drawing faces on the pumpkin with markers is a better alternative.
• Pumpkins should be lit with battery-operated lanterns. Open flames from candles increase the risk of fires and accidental burns.