Monsters, superheroes and princesses will soon be going door-to-door in search of an endless bounty of candy and treats.
For children, Halloween is all about spooktakular fun, but adults must take some precautions to make sure it stays that way.
“Parents should make sure their children are safe when trick-or-treating,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., child health medical officer for the County Health and Human Services Agency.
Here are some tips and precautions to help ensure children have a great time on Halloween:
- Children should wear bright and age-appropriate costumes
- Costumes should be made of flame-retardant materials
- Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible
- Young children should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling
- Older children trick-or-treating without supervision should walk in groups and have a set time to return home.
- Teach children to look both ways when crossing streets and to use crosswalks
- Carry a flashlight
- Children should not enter homes of people they do not know
- Throw away anything that looks tampered with or is unwrapped
- Do not eat homemade treats, unless you know the person who made them
“All candy and goodies should be inspected by parents before their children eat them because most came from strangers,” added Sidelinger, who also encourages parents to not let children eat too much candy all at once.
