Play It Safe This Halloween

DANBURY — With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross of Western Connecticut offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.

Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.

Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.

Cross the street only at corners.

Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars.

Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing for greater visibility. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)

Plan your route and have an adult accompany children.

Carry a flashlight to light your way.

Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)

Visit homes that have the porch light on.

Accept treats at the door and never go into a stranger’s house.

Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover eyes.

Be caution of animals and strangers.

Have a grown-up inspect treats before eating. And do not eat candy if the packages are already opened. Remember, too, that small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for US military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.