10/28/2016
Halloween is just around the corner, and you may be planning to go trick-or-treating with your children. The following health and safety tips from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will help you and your family have a good time and remain safe.
Be sure your masks, clothes and shoes fit properly to help avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Decorative contact lenses may be something that your child would like to wear, but be aware that they could hurt your child’s eyes. Do you or your children’s costumes have any accessories? Make sure that swords, knives, and similar costumes are short, soft, and flexible. If your child’s costume involves make-up or painting the skin, test a small area of the skin first in case of allergic reaction. When you are finished trick-or-treating, wash the skin before going to sleep to prevent potential skin and eye irritation.
Don’t let your children go trick-or-treating alone. Make sure that they are with you or another trusted adult. Most trick-or-treating is done after dark, when it’s harder for drivers to see. Put reflective tape on your costumes and bags, and carry a flashlight so it will be easier for drivers and others to see you and your children. Remember to walk, not run, from house to house to avoid tripping or bumping into people.
Make sure you and your children look both ways before crossing the street, and use crosswalks whenever possible. Try to stay on the sidewalk, but if you have to walk on the road, stay on the far edge and keep your children close. Only let your children visit well-lit houses and never let them enter a stranger’s home. Your children should know to never get in a car with strangers.
Be aware of your surroundings. Stay away from lit candles and luminaries and wear flame resistant costumes.
Examine your children’s treats before they eat any. Discard any unwrapped or suspicious looking candies and homemade treats. Candy has a lot of sugar. Limit the amount of candy your child eats each day to help prevent them from getting sick. Learn more on the Halloween Health and Safety Tips page of the CDC website.
These tips can help you have a fun and safe Halloween, but accidents do happen. If you have an emergency call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital. Make sure to follow your plans rules for using emergency care
