Trick Or Treat - Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween has long been one of children’s favorite holidays. Between dressing in costumes, bobbing for apples, and going door-to-door collecting candy, kids in the U.S. have been celebrating Halloween since the nineteenth century. But while costume parties, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating provide entertainment, the real key to having fun on Halloween is safety.
On a night when innocent boys and girls transform into innovative ghosts and goblins, it’s important that both parents and children take the proper safety precautions. Here are a few tips from the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein to help ensure that you and your children have a happy and safe Halloween:
Before Halloween:
· Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Adding reflective tape to a costume increases the visibility of your child.
· Use make-up instead of wearing a mask, as a mask impedes a child’s vision at nighttime.
· Give all children a flashlight, as it will be dark outside and not all roads have sidewalks.
· Clear the path leading up to your house for trick-or-treaters and be sure that it’s properly illuminated to prevent any unnecessary injuries.
· Use caution when carving pumpkins. Young children should not use sharp knives, and when possible, use lights or glow sticks inside a jack-o’-lantern instead of a candle.
· Incorporate a Halloween theme to dinner and eat a good meal before trick-or-treating. If a child is full he or she will be less likely to eat a lot of candy so late in the evening.
During Halloween:
· Parents should accompany young children at all times.
· Kids should never trick-or-treat alone, no matter what their age, and always find safe and well lit neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in.
· If in a large group of friends, kids should buddy up. And, there should be one parent at the front of the pack and one at the rear at all times.
· Obey the rules of the road. Children should only cross the street in a proper crosswalk, and walk, not run, to their next destination. Drivers too should be alert for children inattentively running across the street at any time.
· A safe alternative to trick-or-treating in neighborhoods is to visit your local mall or nursing home. Stores often offer candy to those in costume, and seniors would adore the attention and surely spoil their visitors.
· Do not accept or consume unwrapped treats or open beverages at any time.
After Halloween:
· An adult should inspect all candy before it is consumed.
· Ration your children’s candy supply to ensure they don’t eat too much too soon. If you spread it out over a few weeks, they will be happy to have candy to eat for days to come.
· Properly dispose of or put away any and all decorations. Many holiday decorations can be recycled and more often than not reused again the following year.
· If you still haven’t gotten your fill of Halloween decorations or candy, visit your local stores who will be selling their remaining supplies at a discounted rate, and save yourself a buck or two down the road.
Halloween is a time to let loose, have fun, and be creative, so go for it! But remember, a safe Halloween is a fun Halloween. And you can take our word for it, candy always tastes sweeter when you’re safe and sound in the confines of your home.
Happy Halloween from your friends at The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein! And don’t forget to take a picture of your kids and their friends, the memories will last a lifetime.
