Oct 31 2008
Halloween Safety Tips
HAPPY HALLOWEEEN! We decided to go to the carnival lastnight even though it was freezing cold and my fiance was ill and tired. The kids really had a good time. I dropped my son off at 5:30 when it first started because his daddy is the type that waits until the last minute to go and Brandon is like me he wants to be there from the get go so he can enjoy everything. I’m glad I dropped him off early because by the time we finally got there and ate the games were winding down, the books I had waited to buy all week were all sold out, and believe it or not all the baked goods were sold out! I have to say I was very disappointed. The girls had a ball playing the little games like toss the bean bag, fishing for candy, pick the prize, and hit the frog. We let them dress up in their costumes which made them really excited. The food was the biggest disappointment, we all piled into the cafeteria only to find that this year all they were giving out was hotdogs, chips, bottled water or diet pepsi. Diet pepsi or water for a kid? That wasn’t a big hit. We got eight hotdogs and two bottles of water, the price came up to $17! She cut it down to $14 but come on that much for hotdogs! We could have went to get pizza beforehand and paid less or the same price! When it was over we couldn’t find our son. He is usually really good about running around with his friends and keeping in touch with us here and there but for some reason after we told him we were getting ready to leave he disappeared. We waited outside the gym forever, they were already taking down the booths, my fiance ran around outside looking for him and found him no where. There was another mom looking for her kids also, needless to say we were all worried. I finally told my fiance to take the girls to my parents house while I looked for him. I went out back, in tears, and ran into another mom that said she thought he was in the media center. Thankfully there he was making himself some coffee! Needless to say he’s in trouble for a little while. I believe there were a lot of parents in the same boat as us because the media center was full of kids while most people didn’t even know there was anything going on in there otherwise all the adults would have been in there making coffee. (smile) We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, everyone feels comfortable letting their kids run around without supervision because there is always someone watching out for them but I learned a very important lesson which leads to my son isn’t allowed to go off alone until he’s married, that way he still won’t be alone his wife will be with him!
Halloween safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
ALL DRESSED UP:
- Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
- Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
- Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
- When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
- If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
- Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
- Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
HOME SAFE HOME:
- To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
- Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
- Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
- Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:
- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
- Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
- Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
- Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
- Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
- Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
- Never cut across yards or use alleys.
- Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
- Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
- Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:
- A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
- Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
- Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.
