Halloween Costume Safety Tips

For kids, Halloween means they can dress up as anything they want for a night. Whether they may want to be a scary vampire or pretty princess, there are some things to take into consideration while shopping for your child's costume:

• Make sure children wear bright colors. Bright colors are much more noticeable to drivers at night. If your child's costume is a dark color, adding reflective tape or safety light to their costumes can help them be more visible at night.
• Also, wearing well-fitted costumes and comfortable shoes will help prevent falls or trips that can be caused by long hemlines.
• Opt for makeup instead of a mask. Masks can make it hard to hear and block your child's peripheral view.
• Make sure to test makeup in a small area first and to take off before bedtime to prevent irritation.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

For more Halloween Safety Tips, visit the American Red Cross.