Make it a safe Halloween for the kids

Follow some basic guidelines for a fun and safe Halloween:

• Trick or Treaters
• Carry a flashlight.
• Walk, don’t run.
• Stay on Sidewalks.
• Obey traffic signals.
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
• Don’t cut across yards or driveways.
• Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
• Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground.
• Shoes should fit (even if they don’t go with your costume).
• Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
• Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
• Approach only houses that are well lighted.
• Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know.

Parents

• Have your child eat dinner before setting out.
• Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult.
• If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably one that can be read in the dark. Children should carry a cell phone to call you or a friend.
• If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
• Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home and you should know where they’re going.
• Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
• Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspicious.

Homeowners

• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots that can trip the young ones.
• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.
• Battery powered jack o ‘lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won’t be blown into a flaming candle.
• Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be micro-waved later.
• Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins.

Carving a pumpkin

• Are your children begging to carve pumpkins? Make it a family affair!
• Use markers. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with washable markers. Offer strips of brightly colored paper, costume jewels, glitter glue, washable paint or other decorations.
• Leave the carving to an adult.
• Invest in pumpkin cutters. With supervision, older children can carve their own pumpkins with special pumpkin cutters equipped with safety bars
• Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended