Halloween is such a fun and happy holiday . It would be a shame to have it ruined by an easily preventable injury or illness. As parents we need to ensure our children's safety. By taking a few precautions, both parents and children can have an enjoyable Halloween experience. Here are some useful Halloween trick or treating safety tips that I'd like to share:



Tips for parents:

1. Make sure that your child's costume and shoes fit properly.

This will reduce your child's chances of getting hurt by tripping or falling.

2. Make sure that your child's costume is also fire proof. Kids are curious and it takes only a second for them to touch a lit candle in a halloween pumpkin.

3. Add reflective tape to your child's costume to increase visibility to passing motorists . Children should also carry flashlights, glow sticks or some type of illuminating device.

4. If your child wears a Halloween mask, check his/her peripheral vision to make sure vision is not impaired. Use face paint/makeup instead if possible .

5. Recharge your cell phone battery before leaving the house. I can't stress how important this is.

6. Carry a flashlight with new batteries. You don't want to be halfway through your rounds and have your batteries run out.

7. If you plan to trick or treat in another neighborhood, be sure to familiarize yourself with it prior to Halloween. Drive past it during the day so you can see where to park and also to see any areas of concern or dangerous areas. Houses with tall bushes or dogs should be avoided.

8. Have a designated place to meet in case of emergency. Always plan for the worst.

9. Stay in well lit areas and well travelled paths. Even familar short cuts could be dangerous at night.

10. Don't stay out too late. You don't want to be walking home or to your car alone with your kids.

11. Check the weather before going out and dress accordingly.

12. Bring a camera. Take memorable pictures and it can also be used to document any incidents.

Tips for kids:

1. Do not eat candies until your parents have a chance to inspect them first.

2. Always receive candy outside the house. Never go into a house unless accompanied by your parent.

3. Only go to houses with porch lights that are "on".

4. Always stay within sight of your parents or older siblings.

5. Do not talk to strangers and more importantly, never accept rides from them .

6. Look both ways before crossing the street. Kids often forget to do this in the excitement of Halloween.

7. Do not touch any pets without asking the owner and your parents for permission first, and definitely don't tease them with the candies.

Halloween is a great holiday for both parents and kids. Sometimes I wish I was young again so I could go trick or treating again!

I hope were able to get something valuable from our safety tips.

Be safe and be vigilant.