Halloween Safety

Trick or Treating Safety

Halloween is such a fun time of year for kids and adults alike, so its important that we take some precautions to keep it that way! Here's my list of trick or treating tips for your family.

• Wear comfortable shoes!!
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear something with a reflector on it (you can even find reflector tape and paint at your local home improvement store.
• Go out before dark-especially for little ones. The big kids tend to flood the streets later at night making it hard for little ones to trick or treat.
• Never go into a strangers house, even if they ask you to come in while they go and get some candy.
• Throw away all homemade or unwrapped treats. I know some people work hard on making great home made treats, but in this day and age its not worth the risk!
• When walking down the street, have the adult walk closest to the road, and the children closest to the houses.
• Do not run ahead of the adults-its very easy for children to get carried away and accidentally run into the road.
• Do not pet strange animals while trick or treating. Though you really shouldn't ever pet someone's animal with out being invited to do so, you especially shouldn't during trick or treating where your costume or other costumes may be irritating or confusing to the animal.
• Do not eat candy as you go.
• Always be nice, even when people do not have any candy to give out.
• Do not knock on doors where the lights are off.
• Watch where you step!
• Have a plan before you start. If you are walking in an unfamiliar neighborhood, it is easy to get lost.
• When you approach a treat giving house, make sure to yell "Trick or Treat!" very loudly!

When you get home, check all of the candy before allowing children to eat any of it.

You are looking for:

• old worn wrappers

• torn wrappers (even with the smallest hole)

• home made treats

• unwrapped treats

• toys with small parts that may be a chocking hazard

• money (change)

• fruit

• any candy that looks like it may have been tampered with.

• for small children, remove any hard candies. They tend to become slick once in the mouth and can quickly become a choking hazard.

• lickable stamps

• glass or sharp objects

If you find any of the above mentioned items, its best to discard them-trust me, there will still be plenty of treats to go around afterwards!!

Have a safe and Fun Halloween-and take lots of pictures!

About The Author: Samantha Olea is a designer, business woman, wife, and most of all Mother of 2! Samantha founded a free parenting resource at http://TheBestMoms.com hoping to help every mom be the very best mom they can be! Samantha is also the owner of her own web design, graphic design, and hosting firm at : http://getwrappedup.com and AWU Gifts: http://Gifts.GetWrappedUp.com , where she helps Moms work from their homes. Email: [email protected]

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it’s easy for children to forget basic safety rules.

When emotions are running high, it’s a good time to remember to “use your head.” Plan ahead and plan to have a safe Halloween. Raise safety awareness with your family before the festivities begin. We do the right thing, but we don’t always explain it to children. As you place a saucer under each tea light, or “stop, look and listen” at street corners and in parking lots, tell your child why. They don’t always connect the dots unless you point it out.

Here are some Halloween Safety Tips to keep in mind:

1.) Stay sober and alert.

It’s amazing how many family Halloween celebrations involve adults drinking. It’s impossible to monitor children’s safety or your own when you’ve had too much to drink, so don’t.

2.) Avoid cuts and burns when decorating.

Carving the pumpkin, placing luminaria in the driveway, and hanging spooky skeletons all present opportunities for injury. If you’re decorating with candles, observe fires safety. Have a good fire extinguisher handy and make sure everyone knows where it is.

3.) Observe ladder safety regulations.

According to the NASD, accidents involving ladders cause an estimated 300 death a year in the US, and 130,000 injuries requiring medical attention. Review ladder safety rules and observe them.

4.) Make sure “treats” aren’t “tricks.”

Many people these days choose to go to fairs or private parties instead of trick or treating for safety reasons. If your child is going trick or treating, go with them. Make it a rule that nothing is to be eaten until it’s first been inspected by you.

5.) Caution your child about strangers and dogs.

Keep your children with you and remind them to avoid people and dogs they don’t know. Many people are taking their dog companions out in costume these days, and even the most gentle of family pets can do something unexpected with all the excitement.

6.) Accidental falls is the number one cause of injuries on Halloween night (National Safety Council).

Choose your child’s costume with this in mind. Hem up the hemlines. If you choose a mask, choose one that doesn’t obstruct sight. Stay sober and observe safety rules when decorating.

7.) Four times more children are killed in pedestrian/automobile accidents on Halloween night than on any other night of the year.

The CDC suggests these factors make it a high risk: short stature, inability to react quickly enough to avoid a car or evaluate a potential traffic threat, lack of impulse control, and all the exciting distractions.

8.) The holiday syndrome.

The excitement, more candy, more parties, less sleep, less nutritious food, and getting off schedule all mean less attentiveness and also possibly illness. Keep routines as normal as you can.

9.) Choose safe and sensible costumes.

Choose fire retardant costumes that allow children free movement and good visibility. Be careful about accessories. Even toy knives and swords can cause harm. Give each child a flashlight.

10.) Set a good example.

Show that you care about safety and make it a top priority.