Halloween is almost here. For parents and adults, that means lots of goofy costume parties and guilt-free snacking; for kids, it means collecting as much candy as possible. Indeed, Halloween is an exciting holiday, but as with all high-traffic events, it does put kids at risk of injury if certain precautions are not taken. To minimize these potential hazards, follow these tips.

Keep Them Off The Street

Seems like a no-brainier right? Well, car accidents are more common on Halloween because kids tend to run into the street. Avoid this by making sure that they don’t wear all-black costumes. In addition, make sure they know that they know to stay on the sidewalk at all times; if they must cross the street, then tell them that they must be accompanied by a responsible guardian. 

Keep a First Aid Kit On Hand

If you plan on going trick or treating with your children this year, then be sure to take a metal first aid kit with you. Even if you tell your kids not to run, it’s usually unavoidable. Really, can you blame them? Remember how exciting it was to collect all that candy with your friends? Kids will be kids, and guess what? Running around is part of being a kid.

The issue, of course, is that they’re more likely to trip and fall, which can cause a strain or sprain. 

To Treat Sprains, Remember RICE

If your son or daughter does slip, trip or fall, then remember the acronym RICE: rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Simply put, get your child off his/her feet, ice and elevate the injured limb. 

Be Aware of Fire

When shopping for costumes, try to pick something that is fire resistant. Why? Well, lots of people like to light candles on Halloween: You’ll see them on porches, railings, and even in the hands of people who really want to assume the identity of a spooky character. If your child does suffer a first degree burn, you can treat it with burn care products, which comes in a typical metal first aid kit. Be sure to run the burn under cold water, and then wrap it with a sterile gauze bandage.