Free family resource
Halloween Safety Checklist
A practical, no-fluff checklist to keep trick-or-treating fun and safe — for costumes, the walk around the neighborhood, checking candy, and driving through the neighborhood that night.
Before You Head Out
- Add reflective tape, glow sticks, or a flashlight to every costume — drivers need to see trick-or-treaters well before dark.
- Choose costumes that fit well and won't cause tripping — hemmed to ankle length or shorter, with shoes kids can actually run in.
- Skip masks that block peripheral vision; face paint is safer and just as fun.
- Test face paint and makeup on a small patch of skin a day ahead for any reaction.
- Make sure any costume props (swords, wands, staffs) are soft, flexible, and short enough not to cause a fall or injury.
- Agree on a trick-or-treat route and a firm turn-around time before you leave.
- Make sure a phone is charged and one adult stays with young children the entire time.
Walking & Traffic Safety
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they exist; face traffic and walk on the far edge of the road if there's no sidewalk.
- Cross streets at corners and crosswalks — never between parked cars.
- Look left, right, and left again before crossing, and keep looking while crossing.
- Put phones away while walking — a distracted trick-or-treater is a bigger risk than a scary house.
- Drivers: slow down and watch for kids in yards, medians, and along curbs, especially between 5:30 and 9:30 PM.
Trick-or-Treating House to House
- Only approach houses with a porch light on — that's the universal signal they're participating.
- Stay on walkways and porches; avoid yards, unlit paths, and shortcuts through unfamiliar property.
- Don't go inside a house or car for a treat, no matter how it's offered.
- Carry a flashlight or lit lantern even if the route feels familiar.
Checking the Candy
- Wait until you're home to sort and check all candy before anyone eats it.
- Throw out anything unwrapped, homemade from a stranger, or with damaged/torn packaging.
- Check labels carefully for kids with food allergies — fun-size wrappers don't always list every ingredient clearly.
- The Teal Pumpkin Project: a teal pumpkin on a porch means non-food treats are available for trick-or-treaters with allergies.
At Your Own House
- Use battery-operated candles in jack-o'-lanterns instead of open flames.
- Keep your walkway and porch well-lit and clear of cords, decorations, or anything a trick-or-treater could trip over.
- Restrain pets or keep them in another room — a steady stream of costumed strangers at the door stresses out even calm dogs.
- Sweep up leaves and secure any loose rugs or mats near the entryway.
If You're Driving That Night
- Slow down in residential neighborhoods, especially between 5:30 and 9:30 PM when trick-or-treaters are most active.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and watch for kids darting between parked cars.
- Eliminate distractions — no phone, and keep dome lights on if you're driving through a busy trick-or-treat area after dark.
- Discourage teen passengers from wearing masks or costumes that limit vision while a car is in motion.
General safety guidance, not medical or legal advice — always use your own judgment for your family and neighborhood.