Halloween Safety Tips for Trick or Treaters

Summary: Razor blades in carmel apples? Rat poison in candy bars? Cyanide in Pixie Sticks? Every Halloween, stories of candy tampering seem to loom over any discussion of trick or treating. These tales are told by kids to scare each other or parents concerned about the safety of their children. Either way, the thought of an evil neighbor intentionally harming kids is enough to strike fear in all of us. And this is also why horror movies like Halloween play on these fears. But how real is the threat of candy tampering?

Back in the 1980s, this Halloween hysteria reached its peak, with popular advice columnists Dear Abby and Ann Landers writing columns to warn against candy tampering. Shock rockers The Dead Kennedys wrote a song from the perspective of a malicious killer who gave out poison candy. An ABC New poll conducted in 1984 revealed that more than half of American parents were concerned that their children would be injured by their trick-or-treat goodies.

Almost all of the candy tampering reports have turned out to be hoaxes. A Houston boy did die from cyanide mixed with the sugar powder in a Pixie Stick, but police investigators discovered that the poison was planted by his own father. Yet this incident happened way back in 1974. In the more than 30 years since, tamperings have existed principally as urban myths. But that is no reason not to remain vigilant…

In this series of free child safety videos, our Halloween expert tells you how to keep your kids safe while they are trick-or-treating. Monster Makeup Artist Matt Cail covers the basics of costume safety, such as making sure that his latex mask allows your little Jason to breathe properly and that your Little Princess won’t trip over her dress. Our expert also discusses how to plan your kids trick or treat route and how to stay in touch, either by cell phone or even better, by staying right beside them all night. And once your kids get home, make sure to inspect candy!