Have a Spooky, Yet Safe Halloween
Do you remember how much fun it was to get dressed up as your favourite action hero, cartoon character or princess and go door-to-door for Halloween treats? Well, your children now get to experience that same joy. Just as your parents did for you, now it’s your turn to prevent Halloween accidents and injuries by supervising your children closely. Here are some safety tips to help you out.
Halloween Safety Recommendations
Costume Precautions:
• Do not let children wear baggy, loose or long costumes, as they are difficult to walk in and are tripping hazards.
• Purchase wigs, costumes and accessories that are fire-retardant.
• Select face makeup and paint that is labelled as approved by Health Canada or “Non-toxic” to prevent allergic reactions.
• Place reflective tape or a light on your children’s costumes and candy buckets if they are going trick-or-treating at night. This will make them more visible to motorists.
Trick-or-Treating Safety:
• Remind children to walk only on the sidewalk and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Instruct children to never enter someone’s home to receive candy unless you are with them.
• Do not allow children under 12 years old to go trick-or-treating by themselves. Also, plan out a route with older children before they leave the house.
• Remind children to never approach or get into a car with a stranger offering them candy.
• Once your children get home, inspect their candy and throw away treats that are unwrapped, homemade or suspicious looking.
• Do not allow young children to eat hard candy, gum or items with small ingredients such as peanuts since these treats are all choking hazards.
Pumpkin Carving Tips:
• Only carve pumpkins on a flat surface with good lighting, such as a kitchen table.
• Use a pumpkin-carving kit that includes tools appropriate for the task.
• Young children should only draw on the pumpkin with markers and then parents should do the carving for them.
• Place lit jack-o-lanterns away from flammable objects such as sheets and curtains and only use votive candles. An even safer alternative to a votive candle is a battery-operated tea light. It looks like a real candle, but without the flame.
• Never leave a lit jack-o-lantern unattended, especially when children or pets are in the vicinity.
If you live near busy roads, consider only allowing your children to trick-or-treat during the day or accompany children of all ages to keep them safe amongst fast moving motorists.
This flyer is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. © 2008, 2011, 2013 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
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