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GHF&MO
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Halloween may be a fun holiday for children, but for parents, trick-or-treat
time can be a little tricky. Concerns about children's safety--whether
they are out in the neighborhood or back home with bags of treats--can darken
the day. To make Halloween a treat for all, follow these safety tips:
Check that the costumes are flame-retardant so the little ones are
not in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns and other fire hazards.
Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the
night.
Try make-up instead of masks. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable
and, more importantly, they can obstruct a child's vision. (A dangerous
thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.)
Make sure children wear light colors or put reflective tape on
their costumes.
Trick-or-treaters always should be in groups so they are not a
tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany young
children.
Make sure older children trick-or-trick with friends. Together, map
out a safe route so parents know where they will be. Tell them to stop
only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
Try to get your children to trick-or-treat while it's still light
out. If it is dark, make sure someone has a flashlight and pick
well-lighted streets.
Make sure children know they should not enter strange houses or
stranger's cars.
Children should not eat treats until they get home. One way to keep
trick-or-treaters from digging in while they are still out is to feed
them a meal or a snack beforehand.
Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats from family or
well-known friends. By all means, remind children not to eat everything
at once or they will be feeling pretty ghoulish for a while!
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