Trick-or-Treating can be fun and safe at the same time

Halloween can be one of the most fun nights of the year, for children across America, but for parents, it can be one of the most nerve-wracking, as well. On average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween, than on any other day of the year.

By taking a few simple precautions, kids, parents and drivers, can make celebrating Halloween fun and safe.

“On Halloween, more children are on the street after dark than normal and they are so excited, that they may dart into the street without thinking,” said Heather Olejnichak, family medicine nurse practitioner. “We’re encouraging parents to ensure their child’s costume can be easily seen by drivers and to talk to their kids about how to walk safely.”

The following are tips for a happy (and safe) Halloween:

• Be visible. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape, or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Carry glowsticks or flashlights to help drivers see the Trick-or-Treater. Items to improve visibility are usually available at mass retailers, party stores, sporting goods stores and hardware stores.

• Wear the right size costume. To prevent trips and falls, make sure the costume is the right size and is not dragging on the ground.

• Use makeup instead of a mask. Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, making it harder to see oncoming traffic, so choose non-toxic face paint and make-up whenever possible.

• Buy flame resistant fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, and look for “flame resistant” on the label when purchasing costumes, wigs and other accessories. Halloween decor often features jack ’o lanterns and candles, which can be dangerous if a costume gets too close to an open flame.

• Stay alert. Put down electronic devices and keep heads up. Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up, and don’t dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.

• Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

• Cross the street at corners. Always look left, right and left again, when crossing and keep looking as crossing.

• Trick-or-treat with an adult. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children while trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well-lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

• Slow down and reduce any distractions inside the car, such as talking on the phone or eating.

• Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.

• Tell children not to eat any treats that show signs of tampering, such as unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, tears in wrappers, anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.

• Keep an eye out for look-a-like products that may not actually be candy. Fentanyl pills and powders are now manufactured as a rainbow of colors, making this highly addictive substance attractive to children.

• If a child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Don’t allow children with food allergies to eat anything homemade.

• Be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys from small children.