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Halloween is a wonderfully fun time to display creativity, imagination and fandom through your costumes. It’s also a quintessential day for celebrating a love for sweet treats.  

Top Halloween safety tips 

There’s a lot of planning that goes into costumes, decorations and celebrations each October. However, it’s also important to make sure you keep safety in mind. Here are some essential Halloween safety tips for Hoosiers! 

Prioritize pedestrian safety 

As the sun sets on Halloween, children dressed as ghouls, goblins and their favorite characters seek to fulfill their candy-covered dreams. According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by car or killed on Halloween compared to any other day of the year. Additionally, WBIW, an Indiana radio station, reports an increase in drunk driving accidents and fatalities on Halloween.  

If you’re a pedestrian, stay safe by planning your route, trick-or-treating in well-lit neighborhoods and keeping an eye on children. If you’re driving, slow down and keep your eyes peeled. If you partake in alcohol, please take public transportation, taxi, rideshare or call a sober friend to get home safely.  

Choose costumes with safety and visibility in mind 

The National Safety Council is on the ball with great tips for safe costumes. From fire-resistant accessories to non-toxic makeup, there are a lot of factors you’ll want to check before you let your child transform into someone else for the night. The Department of Homeland Security drives home the importance of remaining visible with its list of Halloween safety tips. Consider adding reflective tape to costumes and candy bags or using flashlights and glow sticks to increase visibility.  

Trick-or-treat with caution 

Everyone has heard horror stories and urban legends about what might go wrong on Halloween or what might find its way into your candy stash. You shouldn’t be paralyzed by fear when hearing these stories, but you shouldn’t fully dismiss them either. The Indiana State Police website provides tips to keep in mind when trick-or-treating. These tips include only visiting familiar houses with the lights on and never entering a stranger's home or vehicle.  

Do a quick candy check at home 

When you get home, inspect your haul. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends checking young children’s candy for choking hazards, not accepting or throwing out any item that is not commercially wrapped, and looking for signs of tampering on those items that are commercially wrapped.  

If your child has allergies, the Food Allergy Research & Education organization reminds parents to inspect every piece of candy they collect. Both organizations advise against eating any of the treats handed out until you get home and inspect them, so eat a snack before you start knocking on doors!  

Keep pets safe and calm this Halloween 

Halloween can be stressful for your furry friends. They may be anxious about the costumes, loud noises or the constant ringing of the doorbell. On its website, petMD recommends keeping pets in a quiet room away from the door to reduce stress. In addition to other tips to reduce stress, the organization provides guidance on candy and foods that might cause harm, decorations that might be a hazard to pets and more to ensure that you enjoy a pet-safe Halloween.  

Halloween should be an event that allows families to experience safe, surface-level terror. Plan ahead and stay mindful to keep this potentially hazardous holiday accident free. This year, make sure this Halloween is associated with laughter and good memories. 

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