|
Halloween means fun for children but parents may want to remember these safety tips to keep excited little 'scaries' and their older brothers and sisters safe, and prevent trick-or-treating from delivering a real scare.
11 suggestions for Halloween safety
Wear light-colored, flame retardant costumes
Wear shorter costumes to prevent tripping (falls are the leading cause
of Halloween injuries), and wear nighttime reflectors
Use face make-up -- no hoods or masks that obscure the face
and vision
Are with friends known to parents, younger children escorted by adults
or responsible older sibling
Follow a route known to parents
Trick-or-treat within your neighborhood, only to homes you know
Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects can
present tripping hazards
Carry a working flashlight: Children who will be trick-or-treating after dusk should have reflective tape on their costumes and treat bags, and should carry flashlights with fresh batteries.
Be alert to auto traffic, crossing safely, according to rules Eat no treats until parents have inspected them
Accept no rides from strangers
Celebrate Halloween as enjoyable, quality time for the whole family
General precautions Candy: Kids will be less likely to overload on candy if they eat something before they go out. And they’ll be more likely to do that if you make it fun.
One idea: Host a make-your-own-jack-o’-lantern pizza party. Give each child a miniature pizza and allow him or her to create a masterpiece. You can use onions, peppers, or olives for eyes, and mushrooms for a toothy grin. Before Halloween, decide—with your children—on a specific number of candies they can eat per day, and how long that should go on.
After that cut-off date, donate the excess candy or put it away and take it out for special treats throughout the year. Set a treat calorie limit for yourself as well. Of course, make sure your child knows not to eat any treats until you’ve checked them to make sure the safety seal hasn’t been tampered with. Costumes:
Costumes are an essential part of Halloween fun, but hazardous situations can arise if a costume is made from the wrong materials or does not fit properly. “Every Halloween we see children brought to our emergency department with problems related to costumes. Masks that are ill-fitting interfere with vision, and outfits that are baggy or extend beyond ankles lead to trips and falls,” says Harvard Health Letter advisory board
member Dr. John T. Nagurney, an attending physician in emergency services at Massachusetts General Hospital. Jack-o’-lanterns: Carving jack-o’-lanterns is a Halloween tradition that the whole family can participate in, though small children should never do the actual carving. Let them
draw a face with markers, and then you can do the cutting. Under parents' supervision, children ages 5 to 10 can carve with pumpkin cutters that have safety bars. Home safety: Keep your own home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters by removing anything that a child could trip over and by replacing any
burned-out outdoor light bulbs. "Halloween can be a creative and social experience for all," according to Barbara Taylor, Senior Family Program Director, YMCA of the USA. "Families want to know that their children are being looked after," Taylor explained, "and at the same time, engaged in enjoyable, worthwhile activities on Halloween night."
Looking for Safe and Secure?
1,200 YMCAs nationwide will be holding Halloween activities, including costume parades, fun houses, games, face-painting, and pumpkin-carving within a safe, supervised environment. For more information visit: http://www.ymca.net/ .
Sources: YMCA, Harvard University Health Letter
|
