Every October, when Halloween comes around, no matter how careful we are, we still hear news of a tragedy that has happened. A child was lost, or injured, or hit by a vehicle. Our local American Red Cross posts a few safety tips on their website for us parents, as does the Center of Disease Control.
The Center of Disease Control uses a nifty little Safe Halloween anagram to get some information across to parents.
S - Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.
A - Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups with a trusted adult.
F - Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
E - Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
H - Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
A - Always test eye make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
L - Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
L - Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O - Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
W - Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
E - Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
E - Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
N - Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
For the pet-lover in you
It might be fun to dress up your dog for Halloween, but there are some things to keep in mind.
Costumes should not constrict the animal’s movement, hearing, or sight, or impede their ability to breathe, bark, or meow. Also, it might be helpful to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, don’t do it.
Putting makeup or face paint on your pet can be harmful. Paints could potentially irritate their skin, or might be eaten. Even nontoxic paints could cause upset stomachs, or worse.
Remember, chocolate in all forms, especially dark or baking chocolate, is toxic to dogs and cats. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or local control center immediately.
Don’t take your pets trick-or-treating. Your dog could get spooked by a ghost or goblin, and a dog bite or fight could occur.
Stay healthy
After going over your safety checklist, how about starting a new tradition on your street and hand out healthier versions of treats? Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. Do your part in helping America fight obesity in our children. Instead of typical candy, try some of these options:
• Boxes of raisins
• Clementine oranges painted like Jack-O-Lanterns
• 100 percent juice juice-boxes
• Cheese and peanut-butter crackers
• Cereal bars
• Goldfish crackers
• Fruit gummy snack packages
• Snack-pack puddings
• 100 calorie packs of cookies and crackers
• Snack sized pretzels
• Pre-packaged yogurt raisins
• Pre-packaged trail mixes
• Pre-packaged dried fruits
• Crayons and/or pencils
• Stickers or temporary tattoos
• Toothbrushes
• Bubbles
• Plastic spiders
• Coupons to local frozen yogurt stores