Is trick or treating safe? The must-read Halloween safety rules

We're kicking off our trick or treating safety tips with costume safety, but we've also got reminders about sticking together, road safety when it gets dark, party safety and more. Take a look...

13 top safety tips for trick or treating and Halloween parties

1. Be aware of what can happen to a Halloween costume

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"The material these costumes are made of melts when it burns and it will stick to the skin causing horrific injuries," says Geoff Harris, assistant county fire officer at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

They advise parents to keep children well away from naked flames and use battery-powered candles in pumpkins.

If a child's costume does catch on fire the advice from The National Fire Protection Association is to: Stop, Drop and Roll.

Stop – the fire victim must stop, ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
Drop – the fire victim must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering their face with their hands to avoid facial injury.
Roll – the fire victim must roll on the ground in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. If the More practical tips for keeping trick or treating and Halloween parties safe...

Watch a stop, drop and roll demo here

Halloween costumes are classed as toys rather than clothes so they're subject to less rigorous safety tests than regular clothing – this means they can be much more flammable. Take care around open flames and place candles out of reach of children.

Also, if your child has a mask, wig or costume, make sure it doesn’t restrict their eyesight or movement in anyway that could hurt them.

2. Plan your trick or treat route

Map out a trick or treating track choosing residential areas that are safe and well lit. Keep to pavements and find the safest places to cross the road.

When kids get excited after seeing a particularly well decorated house they might be tempted to run across the road / away from the group: you can't always stop this, but having more than one adult with a group of kids is definitely helpful when these situations come up.

3. Set off early

With the clocks going back, it will be dark by 5pm. Don't leave it too late to venture out and plan to be home within an hour.

Trick or treating's fun, but doesn't have to last too long: visit a few well-chosen houses, get the sweets in and get home.

3. Be safe and seen in the dark

Add reflective accessories to bikes and outfits to help children stand out after dark. Halloween costumes themselves can also help children to stay visible in the dark.

Orange stands out in dim light, as do bright white sheets, white 'bandages' and white 'bones'. Glow in the dark or fluorescent face paints and accessories will also help children to be seen.

4. Only knock on doors of homes displaying Halloween decorations

Rear view of three children wearing halloween costumes trick or treating

This is now accepted practice – if you want Halloween visitors then let them know with a pumpkin or other Halloween decorations.

Similarly, when you go trick or treating with the kids, only knock on doors with a pumpkin or that are suitable spookily decorated.

As you 'do' Halloween over the years in your area you'll probably know the spots to go to where people like to get involved - and the roads where you won't get many Jack O' Lanterns at all.

5. Take a torch

Stick the torch in a lantern or inside a pumpkin head for maximum creepiness combined with visibility.

7. Children need an adult with them

A third of our mums on Instagram said they wouldn't let their kids go trick or treating without an adult: and some say that once they're too old to need an adult with them, they're too old to be trick or treating (read the full article here).

If you're the adult going along with the kids - have some fun with it. Dress up and be part of the spooky festivities; we reckon your children will appreciate the effort!

8. Stick together

Make sure all children know not to go off on a solo mission. Let them know they must always stay with friends and their accompanying adult.

9. Don't forget road safety – stop, look and listen

As simple as this sounds, it can be easy to forget - especially when munching through a bag of Halloween treats. Adults and children need to remember never to cross the road while texting or using a mobile phone.

10. Cycling at night? Use lights

If children are cycling at night the law says that bikes must be fitted with clean, working lights – white at the front and red at the back – and a rear reflector.

11. Make sure there’s nothing children can fall over

Often, kids want the spookiest atmosphere possible. When it comes to a Halloween party, this may mean turning off the lights, but if you’ve got tables and chairs in your party room, make sure they’re put somewhere safe where your little monsters can’t run into them and fall over.

12. Apple bobbing alternatives

If you’re concerned about apple bobbing as a game at your Halloween party, try a safer alternative by stringing up ring doughnuts for little ones to eat with their hands behind their backs or try some homemade Halloween recipes.

13. Wands, swords and other accessories

Although most kids will tell you that a wizard is no wizard without a wand or staff, you always need to make sure that they don’t get carried away if they decide to have a magical battle.

Although the spells might not be real, the wands can hurt if someone is accidentally hit.

Pics: Getty

Celia Morgan and Jessica Gibb