Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween Safety Tips By Toronto4Kids The trees have dropped their leaves, and jack-o-lanterns have sprouted up on porches and in backyards. It’s Halloween! Halloween is probably the most anticipated event by kids in the entire year! Halloween is all about spooky costumes and lots of parties… at school, at home and with friends. Here are some important safety tips to help make Halloween safe and enjoyable for your little ghosts and goblins! Preparing for Halloween: Costume materials should be fire resistant and bright so they can be easily seen. Give each child a flashlight to carry, with fresh batteries. Or, use battery-powered lanterns or accessories such a glow-sticks. Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet. Children should not wear masks as they can limit or block eyesight, which can be dangerous.  Wear non-toxic and hypo-allergenic makeup or face-paint. Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1. When Trick-or-Treating: All young children should be accompanied by an adult. If your kids are Trick-or-Treating with a group of friends, hang back where you can still keep an eye on them. Trick-or-Treaters should dress appropriately for the weather. Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk close to the edge of the street or on the grass area. Remind kids of traffic and pedestrian safety rules, and that they should cross streets at corners or crosswalks and never cross between parked cars. Remind your kids not to eat their candy until an adult at home has checked it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted. Candy should not be eaten if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children. Children should avoid stray animals. Remind children to keep away from open fires and candles. If clothes catch on fire: STOP immediately, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to extinguish the flames. If you’re worried about sending your kids out for Halloween, consider organizing a smashing Halloween party for the children in your neighborhood. Happy Trick-or-Treating!