Halloween Safety Tips You Should Read Before Trick Or Treating

PLANO, TX --As you put your finishing touches on your Halloween costume, it's time to familiarize yourself with some safety tips. The Plano Police Department and the National Crime Prevention Council have produced a pamphlet with some insight around things like handling candy and costumes.

Candy

• Kids need to know not to eat their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-ortreaters from digging in while they’re still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.
• Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
• What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don’t forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious.

Costumes

• Even fake knives, swords, guns, and other costume accessories can hurt people. If these objects are part of a child’s costume, make sure they are made from cardboard or other flexible materials. Better yet, challenge kids to create costumes that don’t need “weapons” to be scary and fun.
• Check that the costumes are flame retardant so the little ones aren’t in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns and other fire hazards.
• Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.
• Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable and, more importantly, they can obstruct a child’s vision – a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.

Other safety tips

• Trick-or-Treaters always should be in groups so they aren’t a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany young children.
• Make sure older kids trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so parents know where they’ll be. Tell them to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
• Try to get your kids to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If it’s dark, make sure someone has a flashlight and pick well-lighted streets.
• Make sure kids know not to enter strange houses or strangers’ cars.

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