Halloween Safety

Trick or Treat

It's that time of year again. Time to pick out your costume, and hit the road with your friends for a night of fun on Halloween.

What will you be this year? Where will you go trick or treating? Who will you go with? Are you, your family, and your home safe?

There's more to Halloween than getting your costume ready. Here are some tips on how to make Halloween a safe and happy night.

• Flame Retardant - Make sure that any costume that you buy or rent is flame retardant. That way it will not ignite as easily.



• Costume Size - Be sure that your costume fits properly. You should have room for warm clothes underneath, but don't get a costume that's so baggy that you could trip and fall in all the excitement. Also make sure that you don't have anything sharp or dangerous on your outfit. If you're carrying a prop like a fake knife or sword, make sure that it bends easily.



• Masks vs. Face Paint - Masks make it difficult to breathe and see. Sometimes it would be better to use non-toxic face paint so that you can try your best to avoid any bad accidents.



• Hey Jack! - When you're carving your jack-o-lantern be sure that an adult is present. Draw the face, or make a design on the pumpkin, and then have an adult cut it out. Knives are sharp and could easily slip and cut you. This year use a flashlight or light bulb rather than a candle to light up the face. Oh and never place anything flammable near the bulb!



• A Bright Idea - If you're trick or treating when it's dark, streetlights are not enough. Bring along a flashlight to make it easier for you to see, and for the cars to see you.



• Don't go out alone - A parent or guardian should accompany your group to help keep you safe while you gather all that candy.
  
  
  • if you are old enough to go without an adult, let your parents know where you will be going, who you'll be going with, and when you'll be home.


• Be visible - Make sure that you have something reflective, for example a glow stick, or reflective tape on your costume so that cars can see you.



• Where to walk? - Ideally you should walk on the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, then walk (don't run) cautiously on the road facing traffic. Cross the street only at corners. Drivers will be better prepared for you to cross at corners Make sure that the cars see you, and completely stop before you safely cross.



• Lights Out - If you get to a house where the lights are all out, stay away because the people are probably not home. Continue on to the next house instead.



• Stay Safe - Make a plan before heading out trick or treating., and tell your parents. Wear a watch and know when it's time to come back home. Never change your original plan without asking your parents first! Also you shouldn't go with someone that you don't know, or had not planned to go with.

Candy, candy, candy, and more candy!

Wow, look at all the candy! Where should you start? What's the first thing you'll have? Well the very FIRST thing that you should do is have your parents or guardians check through your candy. Sometimes you can get something bad or hurtful mixed in with the candy. Or perhaps a candy could contain something that you are allergic to. It's always better to be safe than sorry. After your loot has been checked through, then dive in! If your parents say it's ok of course.

Be careful how much you eat, you wouldn't want to get a sore tummy!

Kids- for more Halloween safety info, including hot tips from Count Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wicked Witch and others click here.

PARENTS

• Give your children a good dinner before they go out trick or treating. That will keep them from getting hungry, and sampling candy before they get home.
• Children should be brightly dressed, with reflective tape on their costumes, and should carry a flashlight or glow stick.
• Young children need to be closely supervised by an adult, or a responsible older brother or sister.
• Statistics show that children are four times as likely to be injured in an accident with a vehicle on Halloween. Before your children go out trick or treating, review road safety with them.
• Plan your children's route with them, sticking to safe well-lit areas, and give them a curfew. Also, find out the names of the children that they are trick or treating with.
• Go through your children's candy thoroughly, and toss out anything that looks suspect.

HOMEOWNERS

• Keep pets in an area of the home where they won't encounter the visiting children. Better safe than sorry.
• If you have a Jack-O-Lantern on your porch, a battery powered unit is much safer than burning a candle.
• If you insist on using a candle, make sure the pumpkin is well clear of the path of children, to avoid any chance of the Jack-O-Lantern being upset, or costumes accidentally catching fire.
• Tidy your yard if necessary, so that children won't trip over rakes, piles of leaves, toys etc.