HALLOWEEN is meant to be a special “TREAT” for children. However, during this annual event there are unnecessary hazards which can be avoided if a few common sense precautions are taken.
Children, to prevent traffic accidents, fire injuries, poisoned candy or food, and falls, cuts and bruises, you should do the following:
BEFORE TRICK-OR-TREATING
Wear a costume that makes it easy for you to walk, see and be seen.
Be sure your costume is short enough to avoid tripping.
Use reflective tape on your costume so people driving cars can see you.
Carry a flashlight.
Try to use makeup rather than a mask.
If you wear a mask, take it off before crossing a street.
Plan your trick-or-treat route ahead of time, picking streets that are well lighted.
Tell your family on which streets you will be trick-or-treating.
Have a parent, older brother or sister go with you.
If someone older cannot go with you, trick-or-treat with a group of children.
If possible, trick-or-treat while it is still light outside.
Cross only at corners. Never cross the street between parked cars or in the middle of the block.
Walk on well-lit streets and stay on the sidewalk.
If there is no sidewalk, stay as far left of the roadway as possible and walk facing traffic.
Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat your treats.
AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING
Throw away any candy or food that is not wrapped and sealed by a candy or food company.
Notify your parents and the police if there are any suspicious treats – treats meant to harm you.
With Halloween just around the corner, the “Paranoid Sisters,” Lisa Carter and Lori Marques authors of Child Safety Made Easy have a few suggestions for parents and caregivers of Trick-or-Treaters:
Be sure your child’s costume is age appropriate. Too many buttons and strings on baby’s or toddler’s costumes may present a choking hazard. Avoid any long tails or material hanging off costumes that may cause a child to trip or catch on fire if it gets too close to a lighted pumpkin.
Costumes should be light colored or have reflective tape attached to it, to make your child easy to see. Have your child carry a flashlight.
An adult should accompany all children throughout Trick-or-Treating. Don’t allow older kids to stay out late in the night. This opens the possibilities for trouble to brew and can be irritating to homeowners.
Tell your children to obey all usual traffic safety rules: look both ways before crossing the street, hold hands, cross only at cross walks, etc.
Wait until you can look at the candy for tampering before you allow your child to eat any. Be sure it’s age-appropriate also. No hard candy for children under 5 years, this is a possible choking hazard. Very chewy candy should be avoided, too.
Now get your little trick-or-treaters dressed up and ready to haul in the candy that surely they’ll need a lot of help eating!
