Halloween Safety Tips From The Canadian Red Cross
With October 31st right around the corner, we are excited to share these helpful tips from The Canadian Red Cross! It’s important to be mindful while preparing our children and families for a safe and enjoyable night of trick-or-treating.
- Costumes should be light-colored and flame resistant, with reflective strips so that children are easily seen at night. (And remember to attach reflective tape to skateboards, bikes, and even brooms, too!)
- Costumes should be short enough to avoid from tripping.
- Remind children to stay away from open fires, fireworks, and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
- Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover their eyes.
- Remind children to walk, slither, and sneak on the sidewalk – not on the street.
- Explain to children to stick to one side of the street for trick-or-treating, and then cross over with an adult (at a safe cross-walk) to trick-or-treat on the other. This will prevent running across the street numerous times.
- Remind children to always look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms!
- Make sure to bring a flashlight, to see better and to be better seen.
- Plan a trick-or-treating route and share it with family and friends ahead of time.
- Trick or Treaters should travel in groups of at least 4 or 5. Groups with small children should always have an adult accompany them.
- Visit homes that have their porch lights on.
- Make sure children know to accept treats only at the front door; they must not get into vehicles, or enter the homes of strangers.
- Avoid eating any candy until your group has arrived safely at home, and an adult can check through it in brighter lighting. Candy with opened packaging should be thrown out. And a reminder that small, hard pieces can be a choking hazard to young children.
- If there are Block Parents on your street, make sure your children know where they are located.
- Set agreed-to boundaries with your Trick or Treating group. Explain the importance to your children of staying within these boundaries and being home on time.
Sourced from: http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/first-aid-tips-and-resources/first-aid-tips/halloween-safety