Trick-or-treat safety tips: Costumes, candy checks, avoiding offenders

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As central Ohio communities prepare for trick-or-treating this Halloween season, there are important safety reminders for both little “beggars” and neighbors passing out candy.

With rain in the forecast for much of central Ohio, taking certain precautions is more essential than ever this year. From best practices with costumes and candy to avoiding the houses of registered sex offenders, there are several ways to keep the night fun and kids out of harm's way.

Halloween costumes

Dr. Mike Patrick, an emergency medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recommends making sure children are comfortable in their costumes, avoiding anything too tight or restrictive that could make them feel suffocated or claustrophobic. Patrick also urged parents to steer clear of outfits that could pose a trip hazard. Parents should opt for good-fitting shoes and ensure costume details do not hinder their children's ability to walk.

“You also want them to have a really good range of vision,” Patrick said. “So, you know, if they're going to be crossing a street, you want them to be able to see cars that are coming at them. And then, reflection is going to be important, too. It's going to be dark out there. And you want headlights to reflect off of costumes so that the drivers can see you.”

Additionally, parents should confirm the costume is flame-resistant with a quick check of its packaging.

Makeup and contact lenses

As long as the child does not have sensitive skin, Patrick said nontoxic makeup is generally fine and fun to use. Decorative contact lenses, however, can pose a significant risk of eye injury if not used correctly.

“If you have a teenager who already wears contacts, as long as they follow all the directions on the package and take them out at the first hint of any discomfort, that's going to be important,” Patrick said. “But for the younger kids, probably this is not the best time to start teaching them how to use those appropriately.”

Candy safety

When it comes to candy safety, it is recommended that children wait to eat their treats until they get home. This way, parents can sort what they received and remove any items that could cause issues for those with allergies.

“Just make sure the packaging is intact, that everything seems appropriate and safe and, and nothing seems like it's been opened or tampered with,” said Patrick.

And, in the event a child has a reaction to something they eat, Patrick has key advice on what steps parents should take.

“If they seem to be OK and you're really not sure what it was, I would call the Central Ohio Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222. That's the poison center phone number wherever you are in the country,” said Patrick. “If they seem like they're having trouble breathing, or they're, you know, their face is swelling or there's hives on their body, then I would just call 911. If they have a history of food allergy and an EpiPen, go ahead and give that.”

Inventorying the goodies also gives parents control over how much sugar their kids might ingest right before bed.

“I think portion control is a great idea, and not only for the kids, but for us parents as well,” said Patrick.

Kids who trick-or-treat without parents

When it comes to kids heading out without a chaperone, Patrick suggests parents consider their child's maturity level, not their age.

“If they usually ride their bikes around the neighborhood and you are used to trusting them, then it's probably fine to do that as long as they know what rules are in order,” said Patrick. “For the younger kids and the older kids that maybe you don't think they're quite mature enough to do that, then adult supervision is really going to be important.”

Tips for handing out candy

Many households will have their porch lights on, handing out candy to kids, but there are some safety issues to keep in mind. Trick-or-treat hosts might want to consider food allergies, such as peanuts, tree nuts and chocolate, and offer treats for kids who cannot have certain candies.

“You don't want it to be something that little kids could choke on,” said Patrick. “So, you just want lots of options and maybe even some non-food options as well.”

It is also advisable to avoid open flames, including those in jack-o-lanterns.

“You really don't want open flames anywhere near where the trick-or-treaters are going to be, because you worry about costumes igniting,” said Patrick. “And even if something says it's non-flammable, you still don't want to take that chance with kids. So using flicker bulbs or a flashlight or something like that, it's going to be a lot safer.”

For neighbors who want to make sure their home is included in the festivities, the free Nextdoor app allows members to pin their home to its “Treat Map,” where spooky decorations, trick-or-treat spots, and Halloween happenings can be shared with the community.

Avoiding sex offenders

An interactive tool on the Ohio Attorney General’s website allows people to check for registered sex offenders in their area. 

To perform a search, parents can enter their address, which then links to a map page displaying the names, addresses, photos and more information about sex offenders who live or work nearby. Additionally, users can search for a specific name, view the full list of registered sex offenders in Ohio, and sign up for email alerts about the whereabouts of registered sex offenders.

According to the attorney general’s office, registered sex offenders in Ohio are required by law to register their home address, work address and vehicle information with their local sheriff’s office to be publicly accessible through the eSORN database.

Follow this link to access the database.

View the full interview with Dr. Patrick in the video player above.