Child Safety on HalloweenRemember all of the fun that you had on Halloween and the memories that you and your friends and family made?  As a parent, you want to recreate that experience for your children and with a few safety tips in mind Halloween will be a spooktacular success for the tots around your home.  Did you know that on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year?  Safety should be your prime concern as this exciting holiday approaches.  Let’s look at some safety guidelines for you and the children.

1.    Decorate their costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape or stickers when it’s possible.  You want to make sure that drivers see your little ones as they maneuver around the streets in your neighborhood.

2.    Choose their mask wisely.  A mask can obstruct your child’s vision and cause him to fall or walk into the path of an oncoming vehicle.  If you’d like to avoid the entire mask aspect of a Halloween costume, use non-toxic paint and add a mustache and other funny features that can be easily removed after the trick-or-treating has finished.

3.    Buy glow sticks or let your child use a flashlight to help them see where they are going and to help drivers see them as well.  Kids love flashlights and buying them a small one of their very own will make Halloween more special.
4.    If your child is under the age of 12, he should not go trick-or-treating without adult supervision.  When your child is old enough to go around the neighborhood with his friends, remind him to stay in familiar areas that are well lit and to trick-or-treat in groups.

5.    The most popular hours for trick-or-treating are between 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. so if you are driving at that time on Halloween, be especially observant for small children who don’t always look before the run across the road to get candy.

6.    Choose the right size costume for your child.  Getting the right size prevents trips and falls which injure your child and spoil his fun for the evening.

7.    Inspect the treats that they come home with after their trick-or-treating adventure.  All of their treats should be individually wrapped for safety and should be carefully checked by you before they begin to eat any of it.

8.    Limit the amount of candy that they consume at one time.  Having a treasure bag filled with goodies is the ultimate in fun for a child but you should limit the amount that they try to eat at one sitting. Let them have small amounts and inform them that it lasts longer this way.

Taking a few cautious steps for your child’s Halloween adventure will keep him safe, secure, and helps him create memories that last a lifetime.

Source:  http://www.safekids.org/halloween