Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips for a Fun not Frightening Halloween

Saturday, October 25, 2008 9:27

Posted in category General Health, Kid's Health

Halloween Pumpkins I don’t know about you guys, but one of the Halloween memories that sticks out in my mind are stories about sick people hiding needles and razors in Halloween treats. We were given strict instructions not to eat ANYTHING while we were out trick-or-treating, and local hospitals and police stations centers opened up x-ray facilities to x-ray Halloween candy, and we had assemblies at school about trick-or-treat safety. The fact that those warnings figure so prominently in my Halloween memories probably has something to do with the poison Tylenol deaths that happened in September – October 1982. But I digress . . .

Halloween should be a fun time for kids of all ages, so here are a few tips for a safe and spooky Halloween:

Replace candles and other open flames with flashlights or LED “tea lights” or pumpkin lights to avoid burns.
Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and walk safely in their Halloween costumes. Consider opting for face paint, but if they where a mask, make sure they can see out of the eye holes.
Avoid dressing all black, and add reflective tape or stickers to costumes, and carry flashlights or glow sticks to increase visibility.
Walk – don’t run! Instruct kids not to zigzag back and forth across the street, and only to cross at intersections.
Tell trick-or-treaters to wait outside for treats, and not to enter homes while trick-or-treating.
Instruct them on what to do if an unknown adult approaches them in a car or on foot.
Make sure kids stay in groups if they aren’t accompanied by adults, and make sure young children have a responsible adult with them at all times.
Have an adult check over all candy before anything is eaten, and discard homemade treats unless you’re sure you know the person who gave it well.
Take candy and treats that are choking hazards like jaw breakers, nuts, small toys, etc, away from small children.
Have fun!