“Trick or treat?” That’s something to consider this year when sorting through your Halloween candy, could it be just candy or something more dangerous? Halloween is an exciting time for many kids because they love to dress up and be anything they want to be for the night. It’s a chance for all them to break the rules because it’s the only time of the year when parents give permission to take candy from strangers and stay out after dark. Even for parents it’s a time to let loose and act silly. Although trick-or-treating may seem like harmless fun, there are many precautions to take before letting children roam the streets.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, “Kids are four times more likely to get hit by a car on Halloween then any night of the year.” Since it starts to get darker earlier because of daylights saving time it’s even harder to see kids darting back and forth across the street. Another issue is the actual candy that is handed out, parents may think the candy is safe because it’s from people in their neighborhood that they’re familiar with, but that’s not always the case. For a number of years, there have been reports where the candy kids were given have been poisoned or have had sharp, dangerous objects hidden inside.

Even though there are many things to worry about, there are also a lot of solutions to solving these problems. Parental supervision is key, parents need to be around to make sure kids stay on the sidewalks and stay away from any houses that look uninviting. When looking for a costume, make sure they are flame resistant to avoid fire danger. Kids should always take a flashlight with them so they are able to find their way easily. At the end of the night, before digging into the candy, it should be searched through and any candy that has already been open or looks suspicious should be thrown away. As long as the proper safety precautions are provided Halloween can be a safe and fun time for everyone.