10/24/2011

Halloween Safety Tips from the Department of Consumer Protection

• Costumes, wigs and accessories should be bright and reflective, and be labeled flame resistant. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping.
• Non-toxic makeup and decorative hats are safer than masks, which can limit vision.
• Reflective tape added to costumes and trick-or-treat bags ensure greater visibility.
• Include emergency information (name, address, phone number) inside the costume or on a bracelet.
• Avoid hard plastic knives, pitchforks, guns or swords to prevent injury.

Before trick or treating:

• Assign a parent or responsible adult to accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Provide flashlights with fresh batteries for children and escorts.

Remind trick-or-treaters to:

• stay in a group, walk, and tell their chaperone where they are going.
• visit only well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
• remain on well-lit streets and use the sidewalk; don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
• never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
• not run across a street.
• be sure that all cars are stopping before crossing the street.
• never eat unwrapped items or open beverages, and although tampering is rare, every trick-or-treater should bring candy home to be inspected.

Older children without adult supervision should:

• know where to reach parents and when to be home.
• plan a route with parents beforehand and stick to it.
• not bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
• carry coins or a cell phone to make a phone call if necessary.
• be reminded that 9-1-1 is a free call from any phone.

Remove tripping hazards on your porch and walkway before trick-or-treaters arrive. Check your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous in the dark. Keep pets safe in the house on Halloween, when costumes and noises can cause alarm.  If they must be outside, be sure that your pets are wearing collars and proper identification tags.

-end-

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