TIPS & TRICKS FOR A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN!

As you get ready for your costume party and haunted house trips remember: Safety First! 🎃 Our friends over at the MayoClinic have great tips to keep your family safe this spooky season:

Carve safely

Before you start carving pumpkins, consider these Halloween safety rules:

Decorate with markers, glitter glue or paint. Let young children draw faces on pumpkins with art supplies. Leave any carving to an adult. Use candles with care. Place candlelit pumpkins on a sturdy surface away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never leave candlelit pumpkins unattended. Better yet, light pumpkins with flashlights, battery-operated flameless candles or glow sticks instead.

Get clever with costumes

From furry animals to princesses and superheroes, choosing costumes wisely is an important part of Halloween safety. Follow these tips:

The brighter the better. Whether you buy a costume or make one yourself, choose bright colors and flame-retardant materials and attach reflective tape to his or her costume or treat bag if out after dark.

Size it right. In case it's chilly outdoors, make sure your child's costume is loose enough for warm clothing to be worn underneath — but not long enough to cause tripping. Avoid oversized shoes and high heels.

Skip the masks. A mask can obstruct your child's vision, especially if it slips out of place. Use kid-friendly, nontoxic makeup instead.

Limit accessories. Pointed props — such as wands, swords and knives — might pose safety hazards. Carry flashlights or wear glowing wristbands instead.

Trick or treat with care

Before your children start trick-or-treating, review these basic Halloween safety rules:

Get in on the fun. Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. Pin a piece of paper with your child's name, address and phone number inside your child's pocket in case you get separated. Encourage older kids to trick or treat with a group of friends, parents or older siblings.

Set ground rules. If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, plan and discuss a familiar route and set a curfew. Review safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes, and never going inside a home or car for a treat. Have your child carry a cellphone for the evening so that he or she can contact you.

Inspect treats before indulging. Don't let your child snack while he or she is trick-or-treating. Discard anything that's not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable. If you have young children, weed out gum, peanuts, hard candies and other choking hazards.

If your child has food allergies, check candy labels carefully. Even hard candies may be manufactured in facilities that process nuts, milk, soy, wheat, egg or other allergens.

Ration the loot. If your child collects gobs of goodies, dole out a few pieces at a time and save the rest. You might even ask your child if he or she would like to swap some — or all — of the candy for something else, such as a special toy, book or outing.

 

Source: Mayo Clinic 

Authored by: La Shae