We are less than a week away from Halloween and the days continue to get darker as sunset starts earlier and earlier. On Halloween night, October 31st, forecasters expect sunset to begin at 5:40 p.m., with last light at 6:14 p.m. With the reduced visibility around popular trick-or-treating, it is essential to review a few safety tips to keep your family, neighbors, and all the pint-size ghouls and goblins safe.
Stay alert and watch out for cars, especially those turning corners and backing up in a driveway. It's important to have a conversation with children about safety and the importance of being alert and making sure they look both ways before crossing the street.
"Using appropriate sidewalks, crosswalks, and paths are essential. Remind children that walking between cars and bushes is dangerous because it may be hard for drivers to see them. I always remind kids that just because you see a car does not mean the driver sees you," said Jozelle Prieto a public health educator at Benton-Franklin Health District.
Safe Kids Tip: It is also especially important for parents to practice with their children to look left, right, and left again when crossing and keep looking as they cross.
Another way for parents to ensure their children are seen at night is to add reflective strips of tape or stickers on their costumes. If you need some extra light, your child can carry flashlights or glow sticks with them. A flashlight is better than a cell phone, so kids and teens are not distracted walking and texting. Having a flashlight can also help children navigate walkways that are not well-lit.
"For drivers, it's important to reduce any distractions. Don't eat, talk on your phone, or text. Make sure you concentrate on the road, take it slow and constantly scan your surroundings, as kids can be unpredictable,” Prieto said.
Make sure to have safe snacks for the little ones, to stop them from eating candy inside their bag that has not been inspected.
For parents with children and teens who are trick-or-treating with a group, have them check in regularly with a text or phone call. Have a plan in place and locate a meet-up point if a child gets lost or separated from the group. Parents can also drive around the area children are trick-or-treating in to understand the layout.
When it comes to your child's costume, it is best to try it on a few days before trick-or-treating to make sure everything fits appropriately.
Child's Costume Check List:
- Make sure the fabric is 'Flame Resistant' (polyester or nylon are safe), as there may be candles around outside decorations.
- Light colors are easier to see at night; if a costume has dark colors, add some reflective tape, as mentioned above.
- Plan to bring a jacket if the outfit is not warm enough for the colder evening temperatures.
- Make sure the length of the costume is not too long to avoid tripping.
- Itchy costumes can sometimes ruin a night of candy fun, so check to ensure there is no irritating fabric.
- If you are planning to use face paint or makeup for Halloween, test the makeup on your child's arm to make sure there is no irritation or allergic reaction.
- Avoid wearing masks, makeup, or hats that can obscure your child's vision so they can walk safely around the neighborhood.
After a long night of collecting a bag of candy that would make Willy Wonka proud, adults should inspect the candy before their children eat any of it.
- Check candy to make sure it will not cause an allergic reaction or become a choking hazard, like hard candies or small toys.
- If there are any signs of a piece of candy being tampered with, like tiny holes, tears in the wrapper, discoloration, or anything that comes into question, throw it away.
- Avoid homemade treats, unless you know/trust who made them especially if your child has allergies.
Happy Safe Halloween! For some safe Trick-Or-Treat Events, check out: Top Tri-Cities Halloween Events 2022 - Visit Tri-Cities
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