Tips for a fun and safe Halloween

1. Use a tool kit specially designed for this activity to reduce the risk of injury.
   • For example, the small serrated saws in these kits are less likely to slip or get stuck in the pumpkin pulp than an unserrated kitchen knife.
2. Prepare your work area and tools carefully.
   • Your space should be well lit, and the work surface should be stable and flat. Nothing should be wet or damp, to avoid anything slippery.
3. Carve the pumpkin before emptying it, to avoid putting your hand inside while carving.
   • VYou may, however, want to trim the pumpkin a little at the base to ensure stability.
4. Keep sharp tools away from little witches and ghosts. Cutting should be done by an adult.
   • Of course, this doesn’t mean that children can’t participate. They can help empty the pumpkin, draw the face and decorate it.

The “Teal Pumpkin Project” initiative helps make traditional Halloween trick-or-treating more inclusive for allergic children! In short, place a turquoise pumpkin in front of your house to indicate that you have non-food options and treats free of the 9 major allergens: (1) peanuts (2) wheat or triticale (3) milk (4) mustard (5) tree nuts (6) eggs (7) fish, shellfish and crustaceans (8) sesame and (9) soy. Although it’s safer to offer non-food surprises to allergic children, if you decide to offer candy, make sure that the individual packaging contains the list of ingredients.

1. Make sure the front of your house is well lit.
2. Clear the way so people can walk around without tripping or injuring themselves.
3. Keep pets indoors in a separate room to avoid accidents (fear, allergies, escaping, etc.).
   • Children’s excitement and the constant coming and going can stress your pets and may cause reactive or unusual behavior, such as jumping on children or even biting.
   • Bright accessories and loud noises can scare them away.
   • Be careful to keep sweets and wrappers out of their reach. For your pets, eating candy can cause serious health problems that can lead to death, such as kidney failure, convulsions or choking.

Drivers

1. Be even more attentive and alert than usual.
2. Avoid all distractions. For example, wait until you’ve stopped to change the song or answer the phone.
3. Be patient and drive slowly to avoid, for example, a collision with a child who has forgotten the safety rules and ventured to cross the road between two parked cars.

Pedestrians

1. Costumed pedestrians need to be able to see and move easily, and should have reflective strips on their costume, especially if it’s dark. In this way, they can circulate safely and see and be seen.
2. It’s important to be vigilant at all times.
3. Cross carefully at crosswalks and intersections. In other words, NEVER cross between parked cars.

1. Of course, the above tips for keeping your pets safe also apply in a party context. While it may seem fun to involve your furry best friend in the festivities, it’s not a good idea.
2. Clear the space as best you can to prevent guests from tripping and injuring themselves. For example, if you have a coffee table in the living room, move it to a bedroom.
3. Avoid full darkness. For example, dim the lights in the main room and turn on the lights in the main passageways (e.g. the one leading to the toilet). ⁠
4. Use small battery-operated lanterns to light your pumpkins, rather than real candles, to avoid the risk of fire.
5. Impaired driving is NEVER a good idea. Use a ride-hailing service, such as Tolérance-Zéro, so your guests can return home safely.
6. Don’t serve alcohol to underage guests to avoid being held responsible for an accident caused by an intoxicated minor.

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