Trick-or-treating on Halloween in 2021 is an activity that many kids are looking forward to as we begin to get back into the swing of traditions. While parents may be wary of germs during a pandemic, or the potential danger of knocking on a stranger’s door, children are still begging to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. What should a parent do to provide a safe and fun experience?
Tips for Trick-or-Treating Safety in 2021
Masks
If there was ever a time to make a PPE mask the focus of an outfit, it is Halloween. An adult should choose a comfortable and breathable mask that covers the child’s nose and mouth but still allows them to see clearly. With the seemingly endless array of face masks available, children are sure to find one that both matches their costume and one they feel comfortable wearing. Masks will also help older adults to feel more relaxed about opening the door to young children.
Hand Sanitizer & Gloves
Adults should have hand sanitizer readily available, so that children may use it after touching the candies from various neighbors’ houses. Gloves may be appropriate for their costumes, as well. However, caregivers should remind children to remove their gloves and wash their hands before eating their collected treats.
Have A Plan
In Miami, some neighborhoods like Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and Cutler Bay are known for their Halloween events. Certain neighborhoods make a collective effort to welcome children on Halloween. An individual can generally tell if an area is trick-or-treat-friendly by the number of decorated houses. The Miami-Dade Police Department recommends staying away from unlit homes. When traveling to another neighborhood for treats, a parent should make a plan, detailing an arrival time, where they will park, and the intended route they will keep to on their walk. An adult should also encourage children to remain with them while walking on sidewalks whenever possible.
Lighting
Be on the lookout for streets that are not properly lit at night. Whether there is some lighting or not, a person should always carry a flashlight and extra batteries. Flashlights help trick-or-treaters to see where they are going and it helps adults keep track of a child or children in the dark.
Examine Treats
Although tempting, children should not eat candy as they walk from house to house. The FDA recommends caregivers give children a light meal before heading out to keep them from wanting to snack while trick-or-treating. Once a child is at home, an adult should thoroughly inspect the candy, throwing anything away that looks spoiled, unsealed, is not commercially wrapped, or otherwise looks suspicious.
Choking Hazards
If the candy is to be eaten by a young child, the contents of their trick-or-treat bag should also be inspected for potential choking hazards. An adult should remove choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candy, or small toys. Additionally, a caregiver may choose to cut or break up a larger piece of candy into smaller, safer, pieces.
Trunk-or-Treat
Many groups are now choosing an alternative to the traditional trick-or-treating. Instead, neighbors, friends, or colleagues are choosing to organize trunk-or-treats. In a trunk-or-treat, children walk around a parking lot to collect candy from the trunks of various decorated cars.
When organizing a trunk-or-treat, adults must consider the location, whether it is lit, and how many people will participate. The location could be the parking lot of a business that is closed at night or the parking area of a church or temple. The event organizer should get approval from the owners of the desired parking lot before planning the event.
As with traditional trick-or-treating, lighting is also important. If the chosen parking lot does not have sufficient lighting, participants should bring additional lighting sources, and caregivers should also carry their own flashlights. Participants should register beforehand, and an organizer should assign a space for each vehicle. Anticipating the number of trick-or-treaters, trucks should be filled with enough candy for each child.
Pinecrest Halloween Events Sponsored by Panter, Panter & Sampedro
Our law firm is proud to sponsor the following Halloween event in the Village of Pinecrest. For more information on the events below, please visit www.pinecrest-fl.gov.
Howl-O-Ween
Saturday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – $8 online, $10 at the gate – BUY TICKETS
Pinecrest Gardens will become haunted by four-legged ghouls and their scary human companions as Paws-4-You celebrates Howl-O-Ween. The event features tricks and treats, a costume contest, a Doggie Fun Zone Agility course, food, drinks, live entertainment, a spooky Kids’ Zone and a pumpkin patch. Children under two & Pinecrest Gardens members enter FREE.
Premises Liability on Halloween
If you are hosting a Halloween event or opening your property up to trick-or-treaters, you have a responsibility to ensure that your property is safe. If a person slips, trips, or is otherwise injured on your property you may have a premises liability claim on your hands.
Some important ways to ensure everyone has a safe time include:
- Keeping your property well-lit and maintaining your front lawn and porch in good repair – free of trip, slip, and fall hazards. Additionally, lit Jack-O-Lanterns should never be left unattended, and if pumpkin “guts” spill out of your carved pumpkins clean them up quickly.
- If you own dogs, keep an appropriate “Beware of Dog” sign posted visibly and keep your pet crated to avoid any mishaps when the doorbell rings and the door opens to ghouls and goblins.
- It is also important to double-check and make sure your homeowner’s insurance is current and all premiums are paid.
Halloween Accident Attorneys
Panter, Panter, and Sampedro wish you a safe, spooky, and fun-filled Halloween. However, if you experience an event, which causes injury to yourself or a loved one due to the negligence of another, it is important you immediately contact an experienced personal injury attorney. With over thirty years of experience, we may be able to help you recover financially from the losses incurred due to a negligent incident. Give us a call at (305) 662-6178 for a free case review.
Sources:
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/police/halloween-holidays.page
https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/halloween-food-safety-tips-parents
https://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/6287-how-to-organize-a-trunk-or-treat
