This month our Keeping Kids Safe feature focuses on Reminders for our Southern California Families on How to Have a Safe and Fun Halloween. We know children, like our own, love getting dressed up, going house to house, and getting as many treats as possible. Here are a few reminders in making sure our little superheros, witches, Elsa’s and Jake’s, have a safe Halloween.
The CDC put out a clever acronym reminding us to have a “SAFE HALLOWEEN” We have reproduced their recommendations below and added some additional safety tips.
Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
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.
Always test makeup for an allergic reaction in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. SafeKids.org recommends: teaching kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and watch for cars that are turning or backing up. It is important also to remind children on a night like Halloween when excitement is high, to be careful and never dart out in to the street or cross between parked cars.
Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses. Whether you’re goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch, poor costume choices including decorative contact lenses and face paint allergies can haunt you long after Halloween if they cause injury.
Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. Check out the FDA’s Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents.
Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. San Diego Family recommends children should only visit well-lit houses with cleared walkways. Don’t stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
Have fun, stay safe and Trick or Treat!!
The founding partners at Martinez & Schill LLP are both mothers of young children. Our “Keeping Kids Safe” feature is intended as a reminder to help parents to keep their kids safe. Stay Safe Everyone! Follow our Facebook to See More on Keeping Kids Safe!