Halloween Tips for South Carolina

With Halloween just around the corner, we are soon to be expecting little superheroes, princesses and ghouls dispersing into the streets seeking out the best houses to get candy. This will be a great opportunity for families to bounce back from the floods that affected many residents here in South Carolina and to have a special night with friends and family.     

Many children will be walking around in costumes that usually incorporate dark colors and this can make them hard to see at night.  Here are a few tips and tricks for safer trick-or-treating:

• Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
• Have everyone wear light-colored clothing to be seen.
• Use face makeup instead of mask, which can cover your eyes and impair vision.
• Use flashlights while walking through neighborhoods.
• Walk on the sidewalk and not in the street.
• Plan your route ahead of time.
• Have an adult accompany younger trick-or-treaters.

If you're expecting to be handing out candy to young visitors, you can easily help make their Halloween safer by:

• Turning on your porch and other outdoor lights.
• Clearing your porch and yard of any obstacles or leftover debris, including from the recent floods, that someone could trip over.
• Restraining your pets.
• Using glow stick instead of a candle in your jack-o-lanterns to avoid fire hazards.
• Driving slow and using caution as some young kids are excited and may forget to look both ways if they are crossing a road.

South Carolina will not let the floods interfere with tradition and we hope that everyone is safe and also has a good time with loved ones.  Let’s make this a year to focus and be grateful for the treats and not the tricks!  

Looking for another way to help your family stay safe? Download the free Red Cross First Aid App.  You'll have instant access to expert advice for everyday emergencies whenever and wherever you need it, all in the palm of your hand. Find the First Aid App and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.