October is Crime Prevention Month and also the month in which Halloween is celebrated.
Although children look forward to tricks, treats, and ghoulish garb, Halloween can be fraught with fright for parents, with candy given to their kids by strangers and a legion of masked and costumed trick-or-treaters at the door. However, following a few safety tips can ensure safe fun for kids and candy-givers alike.
To ensure that trick-or-treaters, you, and your house stay safe, remember the following tips.
Clear your yard and sidewalk of any obstacles or decorations that may be hard to see in the dark, lest someone go bump in the night.
Keep your house well lighted, both inside and out; you wouldn’t want to miss any particularly good costumes, would you?
Ask your Neighborhood Watch or local citizen’s group to haunt (patrol) your community.
Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police or sheriff’s department.
Clear your yard and sidewalk of any obstacles or decorations that may be hard to see in the dark, lest someone go bump in the night.
Keep your house well lighted, both inside and out; you wouldn’t want to miss any particularly good costumes, would you?
Ask your Neighborhood Watch or local citizen’s group to haunt (patrol) your community.
Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police or sheriff’s department.
To make sure even the scariest costumes are safe, keep the following in mind when buying or designing one.
Try makeup instead of masks; it’s more comfortable and doesn’t obstruct vision the way masks can.
Check to ensure that costumes are flame-retardant so that young ones are safe around jack-o’-lanterns, candles, and other flames.
Keep costumes short to ensure that the only trip taken is the one around the neighborhood.
Try makeup instead of masks; it’s more comfortable and doesn’t obstruct vision the way masks can.
Check to ensure that costumes are flame-retardant so that young ones are safe around jack-o’-lanterns, candles, and other flames.
Keep costumes short to ensure that the only trip taken is the one around the neighborhood.
Look for brightly colored costumes, attach reflector strips to costumes and bags, and remind trick-or-treaters to carry glow sticks and flashlights.
If a costume involves any sort of fake weapon, make sure that it is made of a flexible material such as cardboard or foam. Or, avoid the whole problem of weapons by challenging your child to design a costume that is scary without one.
Keep in mind the next few tips to make sure your trick-or-treater’s night in the neighborhood will be safe and fun.
Older kids should trick-or-treat in groups; kids walking around alone are never as safe as those in groups, and especially not at night. Younger kids should be accompanied by a parent or trusted neighbor.
Review the route for trick-or-treating beforehand and set a time set when kids should be home. Also, have a plan if your child gets separated from his or her friends or from you.
Remind your children not to enter strange houses or cars.
After a successful and safe night around the neighborhood, remember that the treats still need scrutiny before anyone eats them.
Remind your children not to eat treats until they’ve come home. To help ensure this, feed them a meal or a substantial snack before they go out.
Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Be especially wary of anything that is not wrapped by the factory or that is no longer sealed.
Remind kids not to eat everything at once, lest they be green even without the makeup.
If a costume involves any sort of fake weapon, make sure that it is made of a flexible material such as cardboard or foam. Or, avoid the whole problem of weapons by challenging your child to design a costume that is scary without one.
Keep in mind the next few tips to make sure your trick-or-treater’s night in the neighborhood will be safe and fun.
Older kids should trick-or-treat in groups; kids walking around alone are never as safe as those in groups, and especially not at night. Younger kids should be accompanied by a parent or trusted neighbor.
Review the route for trick-or-treating beforehand and set a time set when kids should be home. Also, have a plan if your child gets separated from his or her friends or from you.
Remind your children not to enter strange houses or cars.
After a successful and safe night around the neighborhood, remember that the treats still need scrutiny before anyone eats them.
Remind your children not to eat treats until they’ve come home. To help ensure this, feed them a meal or a substantial snack before they go out.
Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Be especially wary of anything that is not wrapped by the factory or that is no longer sealed.
Remind kids not to eat everything at once, lest they be green even without the makeup.
I got this from the National Crime Prevention Program; and would like to share it with you all for our safety and most of all for the safety of our kids on Halloween Day while they go trick or treating in the neighborhood or any where else. We need to keep our kids safe and secure; we never know who really are the people in our neighborhood; this is the time to start protecting our kids from any harm and danger that can occur during this day.
4 comments:
this is true ate ces..
strangers into your door and to the kids as well..
i've never really thought about this side when i was a kid doing my trick or treating rounds.. hehe..
halloween is just around the corner, so advance happy trick or treating with your family.
yup, you are absolutely right faye
Kat, neither do I, now that i have child of my own who is excited about trick or treating, i'll be more careful :-)happy halloween to you, too!
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