Saturday is Halloween and we all know what this means: Costumes, candy, pranks, sugar highs, spooky stories and exhausted parents watching it all unfold.
For the boys and ghouls (can’t resist), the whole experience is liberating and exhilarating. There’s nothing cooler than owning the streets in a costume, consuming as much processed sugar as possible and having your parents/guardians condone it. Even promote it. But for parents/guardians, Halloween can be a little bit stressful. It’s dark, the kids are amped up and other folks in town are celebrating in not-so-child-friendly fashions.
I know many parents already know these things, but here are a few Halloween safety tips, courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
S: Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
A: Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
F: Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
E: Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
H: Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you.
A: Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.
L: Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
L: Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O: Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
W: Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
E: Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook well.
E: Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside.
N: Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
And for the adults out there, be careful when driving. As always, drive sober and pay extra attention for those tricky goblins.
Otherwise, enjoy yourselves out there. Be sure to keep an eye on the Beacon’s event calendar for fun and safe activities on Halloween.