It’s that time of year again where you’ll soon see everything from zombies to princesses. Keep everyone safe this Halloween with these ten tips:
- Trick-or-Treating: Join your kids until they are old enough to go out with friends. Trick-or-treat in familiar, well-lit neighbourhoods.
- Choking Hazards: Crafting DIY costumes are a popular activity for Halloween. Don’t let young children play with buttons or safety pins. Avoid giving kids under four marshmallows popcorn, whole grapes, hard candy, and gummy candy or gum balls.
- Shine Bright: Choose bright-coloured costumes that are visible to motorists. Add reflective tape, and carry a flashlight.
- Road safety: Remind your children to walk, not run, from house to house and to only cross the street at crosswalks. Motorists, please be aware of road conditions and little witches and ghosts while driving.
- Costumes: Kids want to have the best costumes and it’s our job to make sure they are safe. Avoid masks that can impair vision and loose or baggy clothing that can cause tripping.
- Candy Check: Inspect all candy before it gets eaten. Throw out any fruit, homemade goods or anything that looks like it has been tampered with. Notify police if something looks suspicious.
- House Safety: Turn outside lights on and remove objects that may cause someone to fall.
- Pet Safety: Keep pets inside safe away from trick-or-treaters. Make sure candies and chocolates are out of their reach.
- Fire Hazards: Place lit candles and jack-o-lanterns away from flammable objects, pets and children. Do not leave them unattended.
- Pumpkin Carving: Use child-safe cutting tools while carving pumpkins, even as an adult.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
For more information:
- Halloween Safety, Slater Vecchio Connected
- Halloween Safety, Government of Canada
- 13 Spook-Free Safety Tips to Keep Your Kids and Pets Safe This Halloween, Huffington Post