Common Halloween Injuries and How to Avoid Them
October 30, 2025
Common Halloween Injuries You Can Avoid
Halloween is a fun and exciting holiday for both children and adults. Nothing beats the Fall festivities and excitement of wearing costumes, trick-or-treating, and maybe watching a scary movie or two. However, Halloween safety isn’t always on the top of people’s minds, and it should be. From pedestrian accidents to slips and falls, Halloween can bring on serious injuries. This article shows how you can avoid those injuries and practice proper safety this Halloween.
In The Article
Carving Safety
One of the biggest traditions for Halloween is carving Jack-o-lanterns with your children. If your family is carving pumpkins this year, there are a few safety tips you should take into consideration. First of all, be sure your carving area and tools are clean and dry. Slippery knives can cause lacerations and trips to the emergency room. Additionally, be sure to use safety cutting tools specifically for pumpkin carving. This can help reduce carving injuries. Finally, always monitor children during pumpkin carving. If they are unsure how to use carving knives, teach them and watch them closely. If you’re worried about carving safety, consider painting pumpkins or using premade stickers.
Decorating Safety
Decorating for Halloween is fun, but making sure you follow safety procedures can ensure you do so without injury.
If you’re hanging decorations, and you require a ladder, clear the area in which you’ll be using the ladder. Make sure the ladder is on a level surface and there are no obstructions or slippery substances on or near the ladder. Always face the ladder when going up or down it.
If you’re using machinery or electric tools when putting up your decorations, follow the safety instructions in the manuals.
Trick-or-Treating Safety
Trick-or-treating is the most anticipated activity for children on Halloween. Because so many children are out and about, pedestrian accidents tend to spike on Halloween night. There are a few things that you can do to ensure your children are safe while they’re out on the town.
1. Only cross at crosswalks
Teach your children the dangers of running in the middle of the street. On Halloween, especially, some drivers may be distracted by decorations, costumes, or other people who are out. Make sure your children know to only cross streets at crosswalks or at corners.
2. Watch for cars
While we expect drivers to have their headlights on at night, it’s essential to show your children how to watch for cars when they’re crossing the road. Never assume a driver can see you or that he will stop if you’re in the road.
3. Avoid running
Running, especially on other people’s property (that you aren’t familiar with) can lead to slip and fall accidents, which can lead to serious injuries. Additionally, if your children are running, they may not pay attention to cars on the road.
4. Children under 12 should not trick-or-treat alone
Children under 12 years old should always be chaperoned by adults or older children to ensure they are safe during trick-or-treating events. This can help keep them safe from cars, strangers, and getting lost while trick-or-treating.
5. Find well-lit neighborhoods
Trick-or-treating in well-lit neighborhoods can help reduce the risk of injury in a lot of ways. When neighborhoods have streetlamps and are well-lit, cars on the road are better able to see people coming into the street. Well-lit neighborhoods can also help reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents on Halloween.
Costume Safety
Costumes are one of the most anticipated elements of Halloween. Some people spend months thinking of their costumes and preparing them for the big day. However, costume safety is essential, and making sure your costume doesn’t lead to injuries is a must. Here are some ways to ensure your costume is safe this year.
1. Avoid pointy props
If someone wants to be a character that has a sword, be sure to use toy props. Any pointy, poky, or dangerous props can lead to serious injuries if a slip and fall should occur.
2. Pay attention to costume size
Costumes that are too big or too small can lead to trips, falls, and serious injuries. In addition, these costumes can make it difficult to avoid dangers in the roads. Having a costume that fits properly and doesn’t have too many hanging elements can help people avoid serious injuries on Halloween.
3. Make sure you have full mobility in your costume
Costume size isn’t all you should worry about. Your ability to move in your costume can be the difference between a broken arm and a fun night of festivities. If you’re having difficulty moving in your costume, you may lose your balance or trip on something that you can’t see.
4. Make sure your costume is visible for cars
If you have a dark costume, you can buy reflective tape to help you remain visible to cars while you’re out. Because a lot of trick-or-treating happens after the sun goes down, it’s always best practice to have a costume that is visible.
What to do If You’re Injured on Halloween
If you’re injured on Halloween, be sure to seek medical attention, if necessary. If you were injured on someone else’s property, be sure to take pictures of the area, and if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence on Halloween, call Ron Bell Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation.
From everyone at Ron Bell, have a safe and happy holiday!