Halloween Safety Guide

For a safe and happy Halloween with your little ghouls and ghosties just keep these guidelines in mind:

Treats

• Parents should inspect all treats, and discard any unwrapped or loosely wrapped items.
• Homemade items or baked goods should be discarded unless you personally know who gave them.
• Parents of young children should also remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys.
• Inspect wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers. Throw any suspicious candy away.

Costumes

• Costumes must be flame-retardant. Make sure shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping. Consider adding reflective necklaces, glow sticks or reflective tape to costumes and bags for greater visibility.
• Make sure masks fit securely and have eyeholes large enough for full vision. Non-toxic makeup and decorative well-fitting hats are a good alternative.
• All accessories (swords, canes, sticks, etc.) should not be sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt if he stumbles or falls.

Children Should…

• Wait to eat candy until after it is inspected. Never go trick or treating on an empty stomach.
• Trick or treat in groups or with adult supervision. Do Not Go Alone!
• Use flashlights and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Stay on sidewalks, not in the streets. If there are no sidewalks available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
• Not run between parked cars.
• Never enter the house or car of a stranger.
• Stay on well-lit streets and never take short-cuts through backyards, alleys, or parks.
• Trick or treat at houses where porch lights are on and well lit, preferably houses in your own neighborhood or of someone you know.
• Not ride bicycles, which could catch costumes in the chains and spokes.
• Carry a cell phone or have change for a pay phone in case of an emergency.