Mind Your Munchkins - Halloween Safety Tips
- Keep the lights on - both inside and out - to welcome and protect trick-or-treaters.
- Be friendly, but don't invite trick-or-treaters inside - you wouldn't want your children going into a stranger's home.
- Get creative - create a costume using makeup instead of a mask. If you do use a mask, make sure the eyeholes are large to allow full vision.
- Costumes should be light-colored and/or decorated with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light-colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
- Costumes, masks, beards and wigs should be made of flame resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester. Look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quidkly.
- Costumes should be well-fitted. Little ghosts and goblins can trip and fall if their costumes drag on the ground.
- Decorate, decorate, decorate ... but keep candles, luminaries and Jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
- Always accompany your young Munchkins on their trick-or-treating route. Consider throwing a bash for your Munchkins and their friends, complete with Halloween-decorated treats.
- If your older trick-or-treaters go out without an adult, they should always be in a group and you should know their route.
- Make sure the treats you offer are wrapped and sealed, and carefully inspect your children's treats before letting them dig into their riches.
- Remind your children of everyday safety ... don't go in strangers' cars, don't go in strangers' houses and abide by all traffic laws - go on green, stop on red and look left, right, left before crossing.
- Keep the whole neighborhood safe by reporting any suspicious activity to the police by dialing 9-1-1.
Be Safe and Have a Happy Halloween!