October is Halloween Safety Month. Before participating in Halloween events and activities, take some time to review safety tips with your children and prepare them for potential risks. Remind kids to be careful of cars and try to be seen by drivers, to be wary of strangers, and to wait until they get home to eat any treats. Stay safe and use caution when celebrating Halloween this year.
Be Careful Of Harmful Costumes And Makeup
Check the ingredients of Halloween makeup to ensure it’s nontoxic. Keep makeup away from directly coming into contact with a child’s eyes, mouth, and nose. Try to test makeup on a small area of skin to ensure it doesn’t cause an irritation or allergic reaction. Be sure to thoroughly wash off all costume makeup before going to bed.
Look over costumes for loose strings, tears, and fasteners. Check the materials used to make costumes, wigs, and accessories to see if they’re fire-resistant. Despite being marketed for children, some costumes may be dangerous or require modifications to be safe for children. Before going trick-or-treating, try on Halloween costumes to ensure they fit well and aren’t hazardous.
Celebrate Halloween Safely
If you or your children are going to trick-or-treat, remember to carry flashlights and wear reflective clothing. Add reflective tape to costumes so others easily see children while they walk along dark or poorly lit roadways. Another option instead of carrying a flashlight is having glowsticks for children to carry or have tied to their treat bag or bucket. The best way to avoid being hit by a car? Stay visible to drivers.
Plan your children’s trick-or-treating route ahead of time and ensure all parents and children are familiar with where they’ll be walking. An adult should accompany young children along their trick-or-treating route. Remind children to stick together and not break into smaller groups. Walk along well-lit areas and avoid neighborhoods that don’t have streetlamps.
If your children are older and going without adult supervision, remind them to be wary of strangers. Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home, even on Halloween. The distraction of scary decorations and possible Halloween activities can be alluring, but it’s always best to keep safety in mind.
If the weather is particularly chilly, bring gloves, mittens, or pocket-sized hand warmers along. Remember to wash your gloves or mittens after you get back home. Smaller children may need to take a break to warm up, rest, and rehydrate before continuing to trick-or-treat. Try to schedule stops along your route to avoid fatigue and be mindful of cold hands or feet.
Always Check Treats
Parents and older children should always check treats and throw away any candy that may be contaminated or spoiled. Discolored, torn, soiled, or loose wrappers are common indicators of candy that should be thrown out. Although it is unlikely to find harmful items or spoiled treats, parents should always check candy before allowing children to enjoy their haul.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Source: National Safety Counsel & National Day Calendar
Image Source: Unsplash
