Avoid Scary Accidents on Halloween
The time for ghosts, ghouls and goblins is here.
Halloween is two days away and parents and children are encouraged to take precautions to ensure a fun and safe event.
“It is extremely important for parents to take precautions this Halloween to make sure their children are safe,” said Dean Sidelinger, child health medical officer for the County Health and Human Services Agency. “Parents should think about safety as they plan their children’s costumes and activities.”
Some Halloween safety tips for parents include:
- Children should wear age-appropriate costumes made of flame retardant materials to avoid injury
- Children should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling when trick or treating
- Older children should walk in groups and have a set time to return home, if they are not accompanied by an adult
- Teach children to look both ways when crossing streets and to use appropriate crosswalks
- Encourage children to wear bright costumes or place reflectors on their clothing
- Carry a flashlight
- Encourage children not to enter homes of people they do not know
- Children should not eat candy or treats until they have been inspected by an adult
- Throw away anything that looks tampered with or is unwrapped
- Do not eat homemade treats, unless you know the person who prepared them
“Most candy on Halloween comes from strangers. Parents should inspect their children’s candy before it is eaten,” added Sidelinger, who also encourages parents to ration treats for the days following Halloween so that children do not eat too much candy all at once.
“Also, consider replacing candy and chocolate with non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils,” he said.
Click here for more information on Halloween safety or tune in tomorrow at 7:20 a.m. to see Sidelinger talk about this issue on Fox 5 Morning News.