By james art
Halloween has become a day as well as an event that has grown in popularity. Even with its newfound recognition, it remains a day that is primarily focused and enjoyed mostly by youngsters. This ghostly shivering day is usually enjoyed in the evening until early night. The time of Halloween and the tradition of wearing costumes creates some safety risks that you want to avoid. So let’s go over some of these safety precautions you’ll want to take before and on Halloween.
Suit Safety:
- Make sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are fireproof and the costume is not a trip hazard.
- Decorate suits and bags with reflective strips or stickers and choose bright colors if possible.
- Rethink the mask. Masks can obscure a child’s vision, making it difficult for them to see traffic or trip hazards. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year.
- Instead of a mask, choose a costume without a mask. The options are endless or use actual paint.
- Many children have sensitive skin, so choose non-toxic cosmetics and test the makeup on a small area first to see if it irritates the skin. At the end of the night, follow the product instructions to completely remove all makeup.
- Have children carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
Trick or Treating Safety:
- The sights and sounds of Halloween can be intense, so it can be helpful to discuss fantasy (make believe) and reality beforehand. Reassure them that it’s okay to feel nervous, but they’re safe with you. Assess if they are ready for a haunted house experience and if not, try another year. Many adults are not ready yet.
- Children under the age of 12 should not be out alone at night without adult supervision. Very young children should definitely be with an adult. If the older child is mature enough to be outside unsupervised, remind them to stay together and stick to well-lit familiar places/homes. They should play in groups.
- Inspect all candy before allowing your child(ren) to eat any of it. This includes fruit.
- Tell them not to look down at electronic devices, but to keep their heads up and walk, not run, and cross the street without looking both ways before crossing.
- Remind them to only cross at street corners and to walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, instruct them to walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Teach them to make eye contact with drivers before crossing. They should also watch out for cars backing up or pulling out.
You want to keep an eye on safety so that everyone can enjoy their Halloween activities.