As boys and ghouls get ready to go trick or treating, South Australians are being urged to avoid unsafe products this spooky season.

Safety regulators are encouraging parents to be mindful of the risks that can come with Halloween ornaments, costumes and toys.

These include:

*Button batteries – the jack-o-lantern, fake candle or wand may look impressive but does it come with a button battery? Check the battery compartment is secured with a screw or similar fastener that’s child resistant.

*Costumes and wigs – the darker, the better for some costumes but if you’re wearing them outside, make sure they’re clearly visible. If you’re trick or treating in dark coloured costumes, add glow sticks or a reflective strip to your costumes and carry a torch to ensure drivers and other trick-or-treaters can see you. Also take care around open heat sources, and check costume labels for their fire risk

*Ingredient labelling - when completing your look with fake tattoos, face paint, makeup, or fake blood, ensure they come with ingredient labels, and keep them handy throughout the night. If someone in your group has an allergic reaction to a product, having a list of ingredients available for doctors can save them vital time when determining how to treat them.

If you suspect a child has swallowed or inserted a button battery, immediately call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for fast, expert advice. If your child is having any difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000).

For more information on Halloween safety, visit cbs.sa.gov.au/halloween.

Quotes

Attributable to Andrea Michaels

Halloween’s a fun time of year to give people a good, fun scare – and these simple safety tips will help make sure the frights stay fake and you don’t end up with a real-life nightmare.

These include keeping an eye out for potential choking hazards and potential fire or injury risks as well as ensuring children are supervised at all times while trick or treating.

I encourage all trick-or-treaters to familiarise themselves with our Halloween tips so they stay safe while enjoying a spooky night out.