Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips & Times for WNY
Happy Halloween!
Stay Safe This Halloween!
Trick or treating seems like an easy thing, after all, you’ve been doing it since you were a kid right? Well, sort of. While some aspects of it have remained the same over the years, a lot has changed. You now have to consider elaborate costumes, smartphones, and new trick or treat times.
Before writing this post, I chatted with a few different parents. I asked them about the most common Halloween headaches and how to avoid them. I uncovered a lot of funny and usefull information. To help you have a seamlessly smooth holiday, I put together a list of pro-tips for Halloween night.
Prepare Before Getting Dressed
Consider everything your child needs to do before putting him or her in a huge costume. Think about things like dinner, juice, and bathroom breaks while your kids are still in reasonable clothing. There’s nothing worse than finally getting your son or daughter into the costume, only to hear “I have to pee”.
Research the Best Times and Plan a Route
Look up a few surrounding neighborhoods in your area. Consider going to a new location this time, if the times are better. For example, in Cheektowaga the trick or treat times go from 630-8. However, close by, in Lancaster and Depew, they go from 6-830. Tonawanda is a bit further away, but their hours are from 530-830! Check local cities near you and find the ones with the longest schedule. Most hours range from 530-9. Also, be sure to plan which streets you’re going to hit and how long it will take. This will help avoid getting lost or too tired before the fun ends.
Consider Costume Temperatures and Footwear
You want to ensure your kid isn’t too cold or too warm while walking around for a few hours. Comfortable shoes are crucial, even if you have to get creative in order to make them fit the costume. Avoiding blisters and sore feet is more important than looking perfect.
Stay Illuminated
Make sure you always carry a lantern or a flashlight with a group. Pedestrians are at a greater risk on Halloween. There are too many kids and their travel patterns are very unpredictable, so even careful drivers can make mistakes. It’s best to stay bright so there are no mishaps.
Keep Costumes a Sensible Length
Make sure you hem any costumes that are too long for your child. Also avoid dangling parts that touch the ground. They may look cool but they’re dangerous and they track dirt.
Check the Candy
Yes, we covered this in our post about Halloween Myths. There are little to no documented case of compromised candy. You don’t have to open every piece looking for needles. However, you should inspect the bag and check for any unwrapped candy. Unwrapped candy is unsanitary and if anything is easy to alter, it’s the unwrapped goods. Just say no thanks to anything that isn’t sealed.
Practice Extra Caution When Driving
As we stated in a previous paragraph, pedestrians are at a higher rick on Halloween night. Make sure you stop at each crosswalk, look both ways of course. You should also make sure you make eye contact with the driver so he or she knows you’ll be crossing. It’s just safer and better this way.