Halloween Safety Tips

Tuesday, October 31, is a busy day for children. Trick-or-Treating consumes the minds of most children until they are allowed out the door dressed in costumes – Pokemon, Disney characters, clowns, ghosts, or monsters. However they head out into the night, when they return they are always loaded down with candy.

The state fire marshal has offered Halloween safety tips that should be remembered by all who go trick-or-treating.

Remember that daylight savings time ends on October 29. It will be dark earlier on Halloween. Small children should be taken out early and they should always be with an adult.

Walking from house to house? Carry a flashlight; make sure all costumes are flame retardant and that they have reflective tape on the back and front. See to it that all children are wearing clothing that will be of appropriate weight for the weather. Anyone wearing a mask should ensure that the holes cut for the eyes are large enough to allow them to see clearly.

Be certain that no one is carrying candles and that only flashlights are used inside pumpkins. Check to be certain that all decorations are flame proof and that any dried leaves, cornstalks, etc., are kept away from heat sources.

If older children are going out alone on Halloween night, tell them they must stay in a group and give them a time by which you expect them to be at home. Ask what neighborhood they plan to visit. If they do not have a phone with them, make sure they have enough change to make a phone call if necessary.

Let them know they should cover one side of the street before crossing over to the other side, crossing only at corners, and never to dart out between parked cars or to allow other children to do so. They should walk only on sidewalks and never along the roadway.

Kids making the rounds on Halloween should never approach a dark house but go only to those which have outside welcoming lights on. Entering a house that is not the home of a friend is unwise. It is also unwise to eat any of the treats they have been given until they have carried it all home and an adult has checked it.