Halloween Safety Tips from Street Smart Kidz

 Coastparents.ca is proud to be working with Street Smart Kidz. Look for safety tips and articles in each coming newsletter brought to you by Street Smart Kidz.

The excitement of Halloween can make children forget important safety rules they have learned. Lit jack-o-lanterns, flimsy or complicated costumes, street traffic, un-safe treats, or lack of supervision all have the potential of turning this fun occasion into a family tragedy.

By following these simple suggestions, hopefully all of us have a safe and happy Halloween!

1.  masks can be dangerous because it can be hard to see, a safer alternative is non-toxic make-up

2. make sure your kids go out with a full stomach, it will help stop snacking along the way

3. a few days before Halloween, start talking about how dangerous it is to eat ANY TREAT, before you check it, and keep mentioning it until it's drilled into their minds, you can't say it enough

4. candles, jack-o-lanterns, lighters and matches are all fire hazards, large costumes can be hard to control and a child may not realize how close they are to flames, talk to them about STOP, DROP and ROLL, and keep the matches and lighters out of reach

5. when deciding about a costume, consider if they will be warm enough, long costumes can cause tripping, swords, knives and other accessories should be made of flexible material

6. costumes, beards, wigs and hats should be flame resistant, read the label

7. no matter how much your child may protest, put reflective tape on your child's costume, ankles and elbows

8. make sure all your children have a small flashlight when they go out

9. did you know, 70% of all Halloween related injuries come from carving pumpkins, and kids jumping into traffic, talk to your kids about this

10. when the children bring home their treats, discard all homemade, baked or products that are not commercially wrapped, really check EVERYTHING

11. remove all choking hazards, peanuts, gum, hard candies or small toys

12. throw out ALL fruit, it's just not worth the risk

13. if your child is 10 or under they should go out with a adult, 11 or 12 they should tell you their exact route before leaving

14. tell your children to stay in well lit areas and NEVER go inside a house, or visit a house with out a light on

15. tell your children to NEVER go inside a car

16. children should walk, not run from house to house

17. kids going out without a adult, should try to make arrangements to go out with a buddy or two

18. tell your children to always use the crosswalks and never cross half way down the block or in between cars, and to use the side walks when ever possible

19. keep your pets inside, in a calm area of the house, away from all the excitement at the door

20. if your out driving, GO SLOW AND CONCENTRATE

Street Smart Kidz wishes all kids young and old, a fun filled, spooky and safe Halloween!