Halloween Safety Tips: Driving, Be Seen, Costume & Candy Safety, Decorations, Pets, too…

Rhode Islanders urged to practice safe driving this Halloween

Safety officials and advocates emphasize the dangers of distraction, speeding, and impaired driving

Rhode Island safety officials and advocates today held a joint news conference highlighting the importance of safe driving this Halloween and urging Rhode Islanders to avoid distractions, follow speed limits, and plan for a sober ride home. According to NHTSA, nearly half of all traffic fatalities that occurred on Halloween night were alcohol-related, based on 2023 data.

“The message is simple,” said RIDOT Director Peter Alviti. “Don’t do the things that cause crashes. Make the right decision. Plan ahead for a designated driver if you and your fellow ghosts and goblins want to drink. Don’t text those witches and warlocks while you are driving. Don’t get spooked and speed to that Halloween party. And wear your seatbelt over your Buzz Lightyear costume.”

“Every year, Halloween brings more people out on our roads, and with the holiday falling on a Friday, we expect even more activity,” said Chief Ryan Duffy, Chief of Newport Police and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. “Families will be out trick-or-treating while others head to parties or events. That combination can be dangerous. Please stay focused behind the wheel, slow down, and if your plans involve alcohol or cannabis, make sure you have a safe and sober ride home.”

“Candy may be the focus at Halloween, but when it comes to pedestrian safety on the big day, the numbers are anything but sweet,” said Mary Maguire, Vice President of Public/Government Affairs at AAA Northeast. “Halloween is actually one of the deadliest nights of the year for young pedestrians, based on an analysis of federal crash data by AAA Northeast.”

“With all that excitement comes the need to be extra careful,” said Lara D’Antuono, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick. “Kids will be out walking after dark, running from house to house, and there’ll be more traffic on the roads. So we’re asking everyone — especially drivers — to slow down, stay alert, and put the phone away.”

“As a victim, I know the struggles associated with the trauma of a car crash at the hands of an impaired driver,” said Lisa Brunetti, Founder of Universe Juice. “Halloween night is difficult to navigate for any driver, adding drugs and/or alcohol into the mix is a recipe for disaster. It should be a night of fun and excitement for children and their families. We need everyone on the road to ensure they are sober and free of distractions to keep the children safe so they can enjoy the magic of the night.”

Additional information:

• So far this year, there have been 32 motor vehicle-related fatalities in Rhode Island.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Halloween consistently ranks among the top three days of the year for pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
• NHTSA reports that between 2019 and 2023, during the Halloween night:
• 198 people were killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 or higher.
• 176 people lost their lives in crashes involving a drunk driver with a BAC of .08 or higher. Among those victims were 30 pedestrians and 145 drivers and passengers.

Halloween Safety Made Simple

• Children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than on an average day.
• Nearly half of fatal crashes on Halloween involve alcohol impairment.
• Make kids impossible to miss by adding reflective tape to costumes, give them a flashlight or glow stick, skip vision-blocking masks and keep to well-lit, familar routes.
• Drive like every block is a sidewalk. Slow down, turn headlights on, keep your phone away and plan a sober ride.

As neighborhoods gear up for trick-or-treating, Insuranceopedia has released an evidence-backed guide for keeping families safe this Halloween.

“Halloween can be both magical and chaotic for families; low-light, crowded sidewalks and non-stop doorbell ringing,” says Max Coupland, CEO of Insuranceopedia. “A little prep goes a long way; make kids visible, pet-proof your candy and decor, slow neighborhood driving, and you’ve eliminated most of the risks of Halloween.”

Kids Halloween Safety Tips

Street smarts

• Cross the street at corners and use crosswalks at all times. Always try to make eye contact with drivers before you cross.
• Put electronic devices, like phones, down so you are staying vigilant of what’s coming your way.
• Never run across the street.
• Always walk on sidewalks. If there are none, then walk facing traffic on the far left of the road.
• Children aged 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating. Older kids who are unsupervised should be told to stick to well-lit, familiar routes.

Be Seen (visibility)

• Add retroreflective tape/stickers to your kids costumes and treat bags. Choose light colours where possible. You can even give your child a flashlight or glow stick to carry with them.
• You can find visibility items for kids at places like Target or Walmart. Sporting Goods stores sell retroflective gear and hardware/craft stores usually sell reflective tape.

Costumes & Makeup

• If possible, opt for facepaint/makeup over Halloween masks. Masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision.
• Choose non-toxic products and avoid decorative contact lenses without an Rx.
• When choosing costumes, ensure they fit properly, to avoid trips and falls.

Candy Safety

• Check treats before allowing your kids to eat them, and look for signs of tampering.
• Kids should only eat candy that is in its original wrappers. Discard anything unwrapped, torn, or suspicious.
• Watch out for food allergies.
• For toddlers under two, try to avoid candy. Dietary Guidelines recommend no added sugar until age two, since this is an important window when taste preferences are developing. For kids under five, also be mindful of choking hazards (hard candies, caramels, and gummies).

Pet Safety Halloween Tips

High-Risk Foods & Ingredients

• Chocolate, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Keep candy bowls closed and up high. If your pet has ingested any chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Xylitol is found in some sugar-free candies and it can be extremely toxic to pets. Even a small amount can be fatal. Store all sugar-free products out of reach. According to the ASPCA, urgent vet care is warranted if you believe your pet has eaten anything with xylitol in it.
• Raisins can trigger acute kidney failure in dogs, treat any ingestion as an emergency.

Decor Hazards

• Candles/jack-o-lanters can burn pets or start fires. Consider using LED alternatives.
• Electrical cords can cause mouth burns in pets if chewed. Prevent this by running wires through pet-proofing materials, like PVC.
• Fake cobwebs, used for spider-web decorating, can obstruct intenstines it eaten by pets. Keep them high up and out of reach.
• Glow sticks are typically non-toxic but taste extremely bitter to pets. Cats that bite them may drool or act frantic. It a glow stick is punctured by a pet, wipe residue off fur and offer a treat or milk to stop the reaction.
• Rotting pumpkins can cause upset stomachs for your pets. You should always promptly discard of moldy decor.

Pet costumes (only if they love it)

• While they may look cute, pet costumes can cause stress for your pets.
• Ensure there is no restriction of breathing, vision, movement, or barking/meowing.
• Avoid costumes with small/dangly pieces to prevent choking hazards or intestinal blockages.
• Check that the costume fits properly to avoid chaffing, red spots, or sores.
• Remove the costume immediately if your pet shows signs of distress (lip-licking, tucked tail, hiding, pacing, excessive vocalizing).

Pet Escapes & Anxiety

• During trick-or-treating peak times, create a quiet room away from the front door for pets.
• Give cats or dogs their favorite toys, like a long-lasting chew to keep them calm and happy.
• Use gates/crates as needed to ensure nervous pets don’t dart out of your home.
• Keep pet IDs/microchips current and consider a reflective collar in case your pet escapes and you need to locate them after-dark.

Pet Emergency Numbers

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; (888) 426-4435 (24/7, fee may apply).
• Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 (24/7, fee may apply).
• U.S. Poison Control (humans): 1-800-222-1222

Home Decoration Safety

• Swap real flames for battery tea lights in pumpkins and window displays, to prevent fires.
• Tape down cords in the home and keep walkways clear and lit to prevent fires.
• Place motion props/sound effects away from stairs and door thresholds to avoid startle-falls.

Halloween Night

• Serve a balanced meal before heading out. Getting some good nutrition in their bellies can help fuel a fun evening and prevent hungry trick-or-treating.
• Let your kids take the lead. Allow them to pick and eat the candy they want. They may overdo it. They may not. Try not to interfere too much if you can help it.
• Make it fun. Sort it, trade it, talk about the ones you love (and the ones you don’t).

After Halloween

• Keep candy in a central, shared location, such as the kitchen or pantry. Be mindful of storing in places out of reach from pets (chocolate and sugar-free candies) and young children (choking hazards).
• Set gentle boundaries. For example, let them choose one or two pieces to have with dinner or to pack in their lunch.
• Have calm responses ready for pushback. Try: “Let’s give our bellies a break for now, how about picking one for your lunchbox?” or “That’s not on the menu right now, but [safe, enjoyed food] is!” (Jill Castle has great resources on this topic, too.)
  • I also like asking my kids what happened to the Hungry Caterpillar after eating too many treats. It makes the point in a silly, memorable way.
• Downsize when the novelty fades. After about a week, interest usually wanes. You can move favorites to the freezer, donate some, bring a stash to work, or try techniques like the Switch Witch. This helps kids and parents transition from the daily candy habit.

“Think of these tips as a pre-game checklist,” Coupland added. “A few small tweaks, like reflective tape and early headlights, turn a risky evening into a safe one.”

Bottom line

Childhood is painfully short. Let’s keep the magic of Halloween alive without letting sugar or guilt haunt us.

Happy Halloween!

Source: RI State Police Chiefs Association; Your Local Epidemiologist – Megan Maisano, MS, RDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist – and Insurancepedia