Halloween safety
Keep Halloween fun and safe by following these safety tips for dressing up, decorating and trick-or-treating.
On this page
Before Halloween
Choose a safe costume
Fit and visibility
- Make sure costumes fit well. Long or loose costumes may lead to trips and falls. Pick costumes that are brightly coloured, or add reflective tape or a vest to be more visible at night.
Masks and face paint
- Use face paint or make-up instead of masks when possible.
- Masks that don’t fit properly can block vision and make breathing difficult.
- Do a patch test before using face paint or make-up.
- Even products labelled as hypoallergenic can cause reactions.
Fabric and fire safety
- Choose fabrics that are less likely to catch on fire, such as those made of nylon or heavyweight polyester.
- Costumes that are long, loose, or have oversized accessories like beards, wigs, wings or tails, may be more likely to catch on fire.
Some costumes may be labelled as “flame-resistant”, but remember, flame resistant does not mean fire-proof.
Always keep children away from open flames, such as candles, even those in jack-o'-lanterns.
Accessories
- Choose soft, flexible costume accessories.
- Avoid hard, sharp items, which can lead to accidents and injuries.
- If you use decorative contact lenses (also known as cosmetic, coloured or fashion contact lenses) for a costume, buy them from a qualified eye care professional.
- Before buying, confirm that the lenses are licensed by searching medical devices active license listing database.
- Learn more about the risks of using contact lenses and what you can do to reduce your risk.
Make sure battery compartments in light-up costumes, accessories and flameless candles are child resistant, requiring a tool or multiple steps to open.
Keep button batteries away from children. Button batteries are very dangerous if swallowed.
Learn more about button battery safety.
Decorate safely
Reduce the risk of injuries
- Have adults carve pumpkins.
- Keep walkways clear of obstacles.
- Turn on outdoor lighting to improve visibility and welcome visitors.
Reduce the risk of fires
- Use flashlights or battery-powered candles instead of open flames.
- Keep candles out of reach of children and pets and away from curtains and decorations.
- Never leave lit candles unattended.
- Keep matches and lighters out of sight and out of reach of children at all times.
- Check decorative lights for damaged wires and loose connections.
- Only use decorative lights with a certification mark from a recognized organization like CSA, cUL or cETL .
While trick-or-treating
Supervision and planning
- Young children should always be supervised by an adult.
- For older children:
- Trick-or-treat in groups.
- Plan a safe route through populated, well-lit areas.
- Set a return home time.
- Pay attention to the weather and dress appropriately. Bring warmer clothes with you if it’s going to cool down throughout the evening.
Safe behaviour
- Stay in well-lit areas.
- Only visit homes with the exterior lights on.
- Remind children to never enter a stranger’s home or car.
Road safety
- Stay on sidewalks or paths.
- Cross the street safely.
- Look both ways and only cross when there are no cars coming.
- Cross at intersections and designated cross walks.
- Never cross between parked cars because they block the view of oncoming drivers.
Visibility
- Wear bright and reflective material to increase visibility to drivers.
- Carry flashlights.
After trick-or-treating
Check treats
- Inspect all treats before children eat them.
- Throw away anything that is:
- opened or unwrapped
- damaged or looks unsafe
- homemade
Choking hazards
- Do not give small, hard or chewy candies to children under the age of 3 years as they present a risk of choking.
- Check any toys or novelty items for small parts and button batteries. Keep them away from young children.
Stay Informed
For further information:
- Visit the resources below.
- Check for product recalls. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer.
- Subscribe to our electronic newsletter to receive the latest news and information about product advisories, warnings, safety tips, notice of webinars or consultations.
- Contact Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program. Please use our General Enquiries Form, or call us at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).
You can also report an incident involving a Halloween costume or other consumer products. Reporting injuries, near misses and safety concerns is easy and could save lives.