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TIPS:
FOR A SAFE HALLOWEEN!
by Ann Crabtree
As
children live out their fantasies this
Halloween, parents should make safety a
reality with these tips Limit the
amount of sweets a child eats in one
day.
Parents
of young children under two years of age
should get rid of choking hazards such as
gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys.
Safe Houses...Only approach houses lit
with outside lighting as a sign of
welcome.Never enter houses or
apartments.Children should walk, not run,
from house to house.All children should
trick-or-treat with an adult.Your Home
Safe Home ...Keep your property safe for
visiting trick-or-treaters by removing
obstacles such as garden hoses, toys,
bikes and lawn decorations.Check outdoor
lights and replace burned-out bulbs.Sweep
wet leaves from sidewalks and
steps.
Treats:Warn
children not to eat any treats before an
adult has examined them carefully for
evidence of tampering, such as small
pinholes in wrappers and torn or loose
packages. If you're not sure throw it
away. Don't allow children to snack while
trick-or-treating.
Flame
Resistant Costumes: When
purchasing costumes, masks, beards, and
wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant.
Although this label does not mean these
items won't catch fire, it does indicate
the items will resist burning and should
extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk
of contact with candles and other fire
sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy
materials and outfits with big, baggy
sleeves or billowing skirts.
For
greater visibility during dusk and
darkness,Purchase or make costumes that
are light, bright, and decorate or trim
costumes with reflective tape that will
glow in the beam of a car's headlights.
Bags or sacks should also be light colored
or decorated with reflective tape.
Reflective tape is usually available in
hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods
stores.
Children
should carry flashlights to see easily and
be seen.Costumes should be short enough so
that children won't trip and fall.Children
should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
Mother's high heels are not a good idea
for safe walking.Tie hats and scarfs
securely to prevent them from slipping
over children's eyes.If your child wears a
mask, make sure it fits securely and has
eyeholes large enough to allow full
vision.A safe alternative is to use
make-up or face paint that is non-toxic
and hypoallergenic. Swords, knives, and
similar costume accessories should be made
of soft, flexible material.
Carve
with care.Children under the age of five
should never carve pumpkins. Children can
draw a face with markers, then parents
should do the cutting. Under parental
supervision. older children can carve with
pumpkin cutters equipped with safety
bars.Place lighted pumpkins on a sturdy
table that is away from curtains and other
flammable objects.Never leave a candlelit
pumpkin unattended.
Don't
leave your pet out in the yard on
Halloween: There are plenty of stories of
vicious pranksters who have teased,
injured, stolen, even killed pets on this
night. Trick-or-treat candies are not for
pets: Chocolate is poisonous to a lot of
animals, and tin foil and cellophane candy
wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. Be
careful of pets around a lit pumpkin: Pets
may knock it over and cause a fire.
Curious kittens especially run the risk of
getting burned. Don't dress the dog in
costume unless you know he loves it.
Otherwise, it puts a lot of stress on the
animal. If you do dress up your dog, make
sure the costume isn't constricting,
annoying or unsafe. Be careful not to
obstruct her vision even the sweetest dogs
can get snappy when they can't see what's
going on around them. All but the most
social dogs should be kept in a separate
room during trick-or-treat visiting hours;
too many strangers in strange garb can be
scary for a dog. Be careful your cat or
dog doesn't dart out through the open
door. While this can be a fun time for
people and pets alike, remember that your
pets are depending on you to keep them
safe from the more dangerous goblins and
ghouls that this holiday brings.
Here's hoping
you and yours have a SAFE and HAPPY
HALLOWEEN!
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