Halloween Safety Tips

Both adults and children should be safety conscious when celebrating Halloween this season. Preprare ahead with these useful Halloween Safety Tips:

MOTORISTS

Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.

Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

PARENTS

Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.

Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions.

Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.

Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.

Establish a return time.

Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.

Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.

Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

COSTUME DESIGN

Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.

Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.)

If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Strips of retroreflective tape should be used to make children visible.

FACE DESIGN

Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. Use facial make-up instead.

When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled “Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives,” “Laboratory Tested,” Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics,” or “Non-Toxic.” Follow manufacturer’s instruction for application.

If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

ACCESSORIES

Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.

Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.

Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

TREATS

Give children an early meal before going out.

Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.

Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.

When in doubt, throw it out.

Resources:

National Safety Council – Resources – Fact Sheets [online]

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Auto Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

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