Tag: "Halloween Safety"

Year Round Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween was almost a week ago so we realize it’s a little late to be giving pointers to keep the kids safe this October 31st.  Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy reared her ugly head and put a damper on the East Coast celebrations.  The devastation was immense so much so that you could say that the dark, cold atmosphere after the storm was as eery as any Halloween should be but not in a fun sort of way.  So although this years tips are a little behind schedule and may not be useful for “Trick or Treating” going from door to door with the kids, they are useful tips for community safety (some more than others.)

• Adult Supervision – Younger children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult, while “Trick or Treating” – Teach younger children to “Be Smart Play It Safe On Halloween” with this educational safety kit.
• Stay in a Group – If children are older make sure your children stay with a group if they are not going to be with an adult.
• Map it Out – Plan out a route around the neighborhood before your children go out “Trick or Treating” be sure to explain to them why it is important to them to stick to the route.
• Stay Within Well lit Areas – Have your kids trick-or-treat in areas where there are a lot of people around. Tell them to avoid shortcuts through alleys and parking lots.
• Stick to Friendly Homes – Tell your kids to approach houses with lights on and to avoid homes that are dark. You may want to include avoiding homes with no decorations at all.
• Stay Outside – Tell your children they are never to go inside someone’s home, even if they were invited. They can get their candy at the doorstep.
• Be Visible – Bright costumes can be seen more easily then dark costumes, if your child is wearing a dark costume make sure they wear reflective gear. Make sure your children carry a glow stick, bracelet, necklace or a flashlight if they are traveling at night.
• Check Costumes – Make sure the costume your child decides to wear is comfortable. You don’t want their costume to make it hard for them to move around or too long they can trip.
• Try to Avoid Masks – If possible instead of masks use makeup. Masks make it harder for children to see and you want them to be alert to their surroundings.
• Check it First – All candy should be checked over by a parent first before a child eats it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks as if it was tampered with.
• Avoid Strangers – Make sure to tell your kids to never accept rides or go anywhere with a stranger, tell them to avoid approaching anyone in a vehicle.
• Obey the law – Make sure your kids understand all the rules for walking around and crossing roads. Children should always cross at corners and at traffic lights where traffic is busier.
• Have Fun – Most importantly make sure your kids have tons of fun and get a whole bunch of candy!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!