E-HEALTH Info

Halloween safety

Oct. 24, 2007

SHANNON M. DAVIES
Communications

Wild costumes and pillowcases of candy… enough to distract any child from the simple safety rules he or she regularly follows. Take a few minutes to review these quick tips and share them with your little Trick-or-Treater – ensuring Halloween Fright remains a figment of your child’s imagination:

Costume Safety:

Costumes should be easy to see. Choose bright fabrics and add a reflective strip to increase night-time visibility.
Costumes should be fit to your child. Shorten hemlines that fall below your child’s ankles, and choose active foot-wear (like sneakers or boots rubber soles grips) for Trick-or-Treating.
Costume accessories – such as pretend broomsticks or swords - should flexible, soft and without sharp edges.
Limit your child’s hand-held Halloween accessories to a single white or reflective bag/pillowcase for collecting treats.
Use make-up or face paint instead of masks, which may obstruct your child’s vision.

Trick-or-Treating Safety:

Always travel in groups
Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible.
Work up one side of the street and then cross safely at the corner to the other side – don’t criss-cross the street in the middle.
Stay away from houses that are not lit or are not well lit.
Never go inside a stranger’s house, or get inside a stranger’s car.
If your child is going out without a parent, have him or her take a cell phone and/or a map (detailing a Tick-or-Treating route that circles back home).

Candy Safety:

Don’t eat Treats while Trick-or-Treating – wait until you get home.
Don’t accept or eat any Treat that isn’t commercially wrapped.
If your child has any allergies, remind him or her to alert anyone who is handing out Treats.
Have your child inspect his or her Halloween loot with you immediately upon finishing Trick-or-Treating. Teach him or her to discard any items with damaged, torn, punctured or suspicious wrappers. Also discard any home-made candy or baked goods. Remember: when in doubt, throw it out.
If your child is young, be sure to remove and discard any Treats that could pose a choking hazard (e.g. gum, peanuts, hard candies and/or small toys).

Click here to view a video on Halloween Safety.




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	E-HEALTH Info Halloween safety Oct. 24, 2007 SHANNON M. DAVIES Communications Wild costumes and pillowcases of candy… enough to distract any child from the simple safety rules he or she regularly follows. Take a few minutes to review these quick tips and share them with your little Trick-or-Treater – ensuring Halloween Fright remains a figment of your child’s imagination: Costume Safety: Costumes should be easy to see. Choose bright fabrics and add a reflective strip to increase night-time visibility. Costumes should be fit to your child. Shorten hemlines that fall below your child’s ankles, and choose active foot-wear (like sneakers or boots rubber soles grips) for Trick-or-Treating. Costume accessories – such as pretend broomsticks or swords - should flexible, soft and without sharp edges. Limit your child’s hand-held Halloween accessories to a single white or reflective bag/pillowcase for collecting treats. Use make-up or face paint instead of masks, which may obstruct your child’s vision. Trick-or-Treating Safety: Always travel in groups Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. Work up one side of the street and then cross safely at the corner to the other side – don’t criss-cross the street in the middle. Stay away from houses that are not lit or are not well lit. Never go inside a stranger’s house, or get inside a stranger’s car. If your child is going out without a parent, have him or her take a cell phone and/or a map (detailing a Tick-or-Treating route that circles back home). Candy Safety: Don’t eat Treats while Trick-or-Treating – wait until you get home. Don’t accept or eat any Treat that isn’t commercially wrapped. If your child has any allergies, remind him or her to alert anyone who is handing out Treats. Have your child inspect his or her Halloween loot with you immediately upon finishing Trick-or-Treating. Teach him or her to discard any items with damaged, torn, punctured or suspicious wrappers. Also discard any home-made candy or baked goods. Remember: when in doubt, throw it out. If your child is young, be sure to remove and discard any Treats that could pose a choking hazard (e.g. gum, peanuts, hard candies and/or small toys). Click here to view a video on Halloween Safety.
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