Door bell trick or treating is probably not as popular as it once was as we live in an ever-inclusive and suspicious society. That said, it can be a wonderful thing to do around Halloween with friendly neighbours and friends. Yet there are many safety factors that parents should take into account. With the darker nights, children are at a far higher risk of being injured or killed crossing the roads over Halloween compared with other evenings of the year.

Parents can help prevent children from getting injured at Halloween by following these safety tips:

Children should:

• Go only to well-lit houses and remain on doorsteps rather than entering houses.

• Travel in small groups and be accompanied by an adult.

• Know their phone number and carry coins for emergency telephone calls or mobile phones.

• Have their names and addresses attached to their costumes.

• Bring treats home before eating them so parents can inspect them.

• Use costume knives and swords that are flexible, not rigid or sharp.

• Use torches, stay on pavements, and avoid crossing gardens.

• Cross streets at the corner, use crossings (where they exist), and do not cross between parked cars.

• Stop at all corners and stay together in a group before crossing.

• Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.

• Consider using face paint instead of masks. (Masks can obstruct a child's vision.)

• Avoid wearing hats that will slide over their eyes.

• Avoid wearing long, baggy, or loose costumes or oversized shoes (to prevent tripping).

• Be reminded to look right, left and right again before crossing the road.

Parents and adults should:

• Supervise the outing for children under age 12.

• Establish a return time for older children.

• Avoid giving choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard sweets, or small toys as treats to young children.

• Parents and adults should ensure the safety of pedestrian trick-or-treaters

• Make sure children under age 10 are supervised as they cross the street.

• Drive slowly.

• Watch for children in the street and on crossings.

• Exit driveways carefully.

• Have children get out of cars on the curb side, not on the traffic side.

Pumpkin Tips:

• Carve pumpkins on stable, flat surfaces with good lighting.

• Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin, then parents should do the cutting.

• Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended.

Many parents overestimate children's street-crossing skills. The pedestrian skills of children are limited by several factors related to their physical size and developmental stage. For instance, young children may lack the physical ability to cross a street quickly, and their small size limits their visibility to drivers. Children are likely to choose the shortest rather than the safest route across streets, often darting out between parked cars. In addition, young children do not evaluate potential traffic threats effectively, cannot anticipate driver behaviour, and process sensory information more slowly than adults.