Halloween is shivery fun for our little trick-or-treaters. But as parents, the scariest part of Halloween is making sure your young trick-or-treaters stay safe. As the most haunting of holidays approaches, California Poison Control System (CPCS) offers treat-smart tips for the “Boo Season.”

“Families should take extra precautions during the Halloween season, because potential hazards are at every turn,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS. “Fortunately, most of the frightening dangers are hiding in plain sight and following simple safety measures can help reduce the risk of preventable injuries from Halloween treats and costumes.”

Spooky treat smarts

Do not let your child eat any candy until you’ve inspected it for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Toss anything that looks suspicious or if it doesn’t have a label.

Be very careful to check for cannabis edibles. They can easily be mistaken for familiar-looking brands of gummies, candies, or other snacks because they are often wrapped in similar packaging. Eating them can increase the risk of accidental poisoning and send children and teens to the emergency room.

Discard homemade treats and treats with personal packaging—unless you know and trust the person who prepared them—and instead make sure your child sticks with factory-wrapped candy. Wash and cut open fruit treats before your child eats them.

Be mindful of small pieces of hard candy, gum, or peanuts, they could be a choking hazard for young children; they can also end up in little noses or ears.

If your child has a food allergy, read the labels to ensure the allergen—such as peanuts, eggs, dairy, or tree nuts—isn’t present. If you’re unsure about any ingredients in any candy, toss it.

With candy alternatives, look for—and remove—potential choking hazards, such as small toys.

Be especially cautious with light-up toys; many have “button batteries” which are a particular hazard if swallowed. The flat, coin-shaped batteries can get stuck in multiple areas, causing severe burns; swallowing them requires immediate medical attention.

Ghoulish costume hazards

Make your child visible by using reflective tape on costumes and bags.

Select flame-resistant costumes and accessories, and be careful with baggy, draggy costumes; they could cause your child to trip or fall.

Instead of vision-obstructing masks, use nontoxic Halloween makeup on your child. Check the ingredients: some Halloween makeup contains lead or other toxic ingredients.

Glow sticks are popular items used by trick-or-treaters to see and be seen at night, but don’t let your child chew on them, as the luminescent liquid inside it can cause mouth irritation and an upset stomach. The liquid can also cause skin and eye irritation.

Swords or wands should be made of rubber or plastic and be flexible. If your child trips or falls while carrying them, a rigid or pointy item can be dangerous.

If you have questions, call the CPCS 24-hour hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Follow CPCS on Facebook, on YouTube @californiapoisoncontrol, and on X @poisoninfo. Sign up for The California Poison Safety Post, California Poison Control System’s quarterly electronic newsletter, by visiting calpoison.org/newsletters. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.