Halloween safety

It will soon be Halloween and hordes of creatures from our zoo of little monsters and mighty superheroes will be out in the streets for delicious treats. While the children should have fun, parents should realize that this is also the most dangerous night of the year for children.

According to statistics, four times more children, age 5 to 15, die on Halloween night on the average, and this is due to more crashes that involve pedestrians or other vehicles. It might be a good idea to avoid being out in a car on this night, but if you must drive, take extra precautions, be conscious of the dangers, and drive very, very carefully.

Safety Tips for Parents Kid at this time will be more difficult to control, and in the thrill of the hunt (for candy) they might forget the need to be careful. Some precautions that might help:

• Make a plan. Take some time to sit down with your kids and map out a route for them to follow. Kids should be told in advance the areas they can go and the places that are off limit. Establish the duration of their trick-or-treat excursion, setting a clear time to start and end.

• Set the rules. Whether they are on their own or have adult companions, your kids must know your rules. Tell them about common safety rules: * always walk (not run) on the sidewalk; * always follow the street lights; * go only to houses that have their lights on; * receive treats only at the door and never go inside the house of a stranger.

• Make them visible. It would be good for them to carry a flashlight to be more visible. If they find that cumbersome, try putting some reflective tape or stickers on the costume, any accessories, or on the treat bag. Someone in the group, preferably the accompanying adult, should wear or carry something reflective.

• Make the costume safe. If you buy costumes from the store, always check that the fabric is made of non-toxic and fire-retardant materials. It is preferable to put on face-paint rather than wear a mask. But if children insist on a mask, cut the eyeholes large and make enough openings for the nose and mouth. The costumes should only be long enough and not trip up the wearer.

• Eat treats later. To be on the safe side, instruct the kids to gather the treats first and eat them later at home. You will want to inspect each bag and discard anything that has been previously opened.