This Halloween will be a bit different from those in years past. COVID-19 has upended traditional trick-or-treating for kids and families across the country. The Center for Disease Control has recently released its recommendations to help protect you, your families, friends, and communities. Health experts advise families to avoid high health-risk activities such as hayrides, traditional trick-or-treating, and indoor costume parties.

Without proper precautions, Halloween can be a dangerous time for children. Remaining vigilant will help keep children safe. Here are three simple things you can do to increase:

• First and foremost, ensure that children are within your view at all times and that all interactions between a child and adult, or peer, must be observable and interruptible. Nine in 10 children are abused by someone they know, love, or trust.
• Second, in the U.S. a child goes missing or is abducted every 40 seconds. Make sure you have completed a Child ID Kit for your children with their address, height, weight, fingerprints, medical information, and a recent picture. This can help the authorities identify a potentially missing child. Download your Child ID Kit by clicking here.
  
• Finally, remind children and teens to be extra careful in their regular street safety practices. Because of the time of day and the number of children on the street, the risk of pedestrian accidents is increased. Motorists must be particularly careful to practice extreme caution while operating a vehicle and to be watchful of child pedestrians.

For a list of considerations for active trick-or-treating, pedestrian and motorist safety, and candy concerns can be found at www.BeauBidenFoundation.org/Resources/Halloween.

As always, part of shielding children from the dangers listed above and other potential threats is continued and age-appropriate conversations. The Beau Biden Foundation has some great resources for you to help get the conversation started at www.BeauBidenFoundation.org/Resources. Stay safe and stay healthy.