Trick or treat is just a few weeks away! Kids and adults alike look forward to this annual adventure, when neighborhoods are filled with joy and laughter as children and families show off their creative costumes and collect sweet treats.

As you finalize costumes for this year’s celebration, remember to make safety a priority. Safety begins at home, with the child's costume. Follow these tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Each part of the costume – mask, beard, wig and clothing – should be made of flame-resistant material. When purchasing a store-bought costume, look for a label that says "Flame Resistant."

• To reduce your children’s chances of coming into contact with an open flame, make sure their costumes do not have big, loose sleeves, skirts or pant legs.

• Buy or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to drivers.

• Decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights in dusk or darkness. Bags or sacks should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape.

• To easily see and be seen, children should carry flashlights.

• Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping and falling.

• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. High heels are not a good idea for safe walking.

• Hats and scarves should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes. Eye patches, wigs and floppy hats can get in the way and cause kids to trip and fall.

• Apply a natural mask of cosmetics. This is safer than having a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or block their vision. Check that the makeup does not contain toxic materials. One to two days before your child plans to wear it, pretest a small amount of makeup on the skin of their arm to make sure they won’t have an allergic reaction.

• If a mask is used, make sure it fits securely. The eyeholes should be large enough for the child to easily see out.

• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.

Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics
The StayWell Company, LLC