TOPEKA – With just a few safety steps, you can prevent children from going bump in the night to ensure a happy Halloween. Injuries can be scary, but the good news is they are preventable. Safe Kids Kansas, the Kansas Poison Center and the Kansas State Fire Marshal remind families to make safety part of your fall festivity planning.

Child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year. Drivers need to slow down and be extra alert, especially in neighborhoods, as more children will be on the streets and sidewalks. Kids may be focused on gathering candy and the excitement of the holiday rather than being careful while crossing streets.

Review safety rules with your kids before they leave the house. Children younger than age 12 should not cross streets on Halloween without an adult or responsible teenager. If your children are mature enough to be out without supervision, make sure they keep to familiar areas that are well-lit, stick to a pre-planned route and trick-or-treat in groups. Carry a cell phone in case of an emergency but pay attention to your surroundings and don’t be distracted by texting or talking on the phone.

“On Halloween night, it’s important to see and be seen,” Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas, said. “Carry a flashlight and have your trick-or-treaters wear reflective tape or stickers on costumes and treat bags.”

Remind children to be careful with candy. It’s hard to resist the temptation to dive right into treats, but it is best to check sweets before children are allowed to eat them. Only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers. Also, be aware that kids are in a candy-seeking mode, so keep medicine locked up and away and keep the Poison Help number programmed into your phone: 1-800-222-1222.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly half of home structure fires happened because decorations were too close to a heat source. Most of these incidents were started by candles. Play it safe and use battery-powered candles or lights. Remember to ensure your family has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home, both inside and outside of every sleeping area.

“Our goal is to keep every trick-or-treater safe this Halloween,” Mark Engholm, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “Use battery-powered candles, watch for trip hazards and remind kids to stay alert and visible while out collecting treats.”

With Halloween just a week away, follow these tips to ensure everyone has a fun and safe holiday:

Costume Safety

• Choose costumes and decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
• Prevent trips and falls by choosing a costume that is the right size and choose non-toxic face paint and makeup instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Make trick-or-treaters visible to drivers with reflective tape or stickers and carry glow sticks and flashlights to help see and be seen. Remind kids not to chew or bite glow sticks, as the liquid inside can irritate their mouths and eyes.

Decorate Safely

• Keep flammable materials such as hay bales, corn stalks and paper decorations away from heat and flame sources, including candles, light bulbs and heaters.
• Use battery-operated candles in jack-o-lanterns and decorations.
• Set a reminder to blow out any candles and unplug lights at the end of the evening.
• If you are attending parties or haunted houses, look for the exits in case of an emergency.
• If using dry ice, wear gloves or use tongs when handling it, and do not put it in cups where it could be swallowed and cause severe burns.

Walk Safely

• Stick to sidewalks or paths. Do not walk through neighbors’ yards, as there may be hazards you can’t see.
• If there are no sidewalks along your street, walk on the road facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Only cross the street at corners and crosswalks – not between parked cars – and make eye contact and wave at drivers before crossing to ensure they see you.
• Pay attention to your surroundings and put away phones and other potential distractions.

Drive Safely

• Slow down and be alert in residential neighborhoods, especially when turning at intersections or entering and exiting driveways and alleys. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

For more tips on how to keep kids safe on Halloween and throughout the year, visit safekids.org.

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About Safe Kids Kansas Safe Kids Kansas is a non-profit coalition of statewide partners working to prevent childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability in children. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment serves as the Lead Agency for the coalition.

Visit us at safekidskansas.org, Facebook and Instagram.

About the Kansas State Fire Marshal

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office is dedicated to protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Kansas from the hazards of fire, explosion and hazardous materials. KSFM’s aims to reduce the deaths, injuries, and property losses of Kansans through inspection, enforcement, regulation, investigation, hazardous material incident mitigation and public education.

Visit us at firemarshal.ks.gov, on Facebook or X/Twitter.

About the Kansas Poison Center The Kansas Poison Center at The University of Kansas Health System serves the entire state of Kansas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All calls are free, fast and confidential. Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.

Visit us on Facebook or X/Twitter