Staying Safe on Halloween
It’s hard to believe, but Halloween spending is expected to hit a record-breaking $9.1 billion this year, with the average American consumer shelling out approximately $86.13 on costumes, candy, decorations and more. Despite having become thoroughly commercialized, however, Halloween remains an opportunity for children to use their imaginations and become whoever, or whatever, they want to be — and, of course, fill their bags with treats.
So whether you’ll be taking a little goblin or ghoul trick-or-treating this year or hosting a party for your friends, I encourage you to review the following tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help ensure everyone enjoys a fun and safe Halloween.
- Only visit well-lit houses, and enter homes only if you are with a trusted adult.
- Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
- Keep walking areas and stairs well lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
- Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
- Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
- Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
- Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
- Keep candle-lit jack o’lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
For a complete list of the CDC’s Halloween safety tips, click here or visit www.cdc.gov/family.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.