Are you ready for Halloween?
- Halloween costumes—check.
- Plenty of candy for trick-or-treaters—check.
- Planned route of neighborhood houses to visit—check.
- Review of safety rules—what are those rules again?
With all the excitement of costumes and candy, it’s up to parents to help their children be safe on Halloween night. Here are some basic rules to follow:
Candy
1. Encourage your children to eat a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating so they don’t snack on the candy they collect.
2. Tell your children they can’t eat any treats before you’ve checked it out and made sure no one has tampered with it.
3. Allow children to eat baked goods only if they have been made by people you know.
4. Set a daily candy limit so kids won’t beg for candy all day, every day after Halloween—and be on a constant sugar-high.
Costumes
1. Select or make costumes that are bright and reflective. You can also add reflective tape to costumes or trick-or-treat bags.
2. Make sure costumes are the right length so that children don’t trip while they are walking around the neighborhood.
3. Masks and hats can slip over children’s eyes, blocking their vision, so double-check that they fit properly.
4. Give each child a flashlight with fresh batteries to help illuminate their way along dark sidewalks.
Pet Safety
1. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.
2. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs.
3. Dress-up can stress out some pets, so don’t put them in a Halloween costume unless you know they love it! Check to make sure the costume doesn’t constrict your pet’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow.
4. Make sure your pet is wearing an I.D. tag or has been micro-chipped by a vet. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside and get lost.
More info:
Halloween Health and Safety Tips
Consejos para un Halloween seguro
Halloween costumes and fire safety (video)
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