Every October, tradition warrants letting children loose on the suburban streets. Showing off their colorful costumes and asking "Trick or Treat", their parents typically never expect more disturbance than a bellyache. Even so, there are dangers that can be lurking. The Centers for Disease Control has these helpful Halloween tips.
Treats Tips
Not only should parents limit the amount of candy and treats their child eats, they should examine it for size and for evidence for tampering. Some candies may choke children and others may be altered to harm them. Keep the wrapped candies, preferably factory made, and don’t let little ones eat anything that isn’t wrapped. Avoid those items that appear homemade. Things that are overly sticky may need to be eaten in small portions and those items that are tiny enough to be choking hazards should always be eaten when the child is not too excited and moving about.
Costume Tips
Keep all costume accessories soft and flexible. It will be better if there is a section of the costume that has reflective tape or patches on it so that it lights up and becomes more visible to passersby. Send them out with a flashlight and don’t rely on neighborhood lighting or streetlights; never use candles. Make sure any masks are well-fitting and don’t move to block viewing. Even better, make a mask out of make-up so that it cannot possible hinder vision.
Trickster Tips
Always send off your child in a group or with an adult and never let them trick or treat by themselves.Tell them not to allow themselves to become separated from the group. You never know who lives in the house you are going to or who is watching predatorily from a car. Have them always watch for traffic flow and never walk in the streets but on the sidewalks. Tell them not to go inside houses, stay on the porch or in the front of the door area.
Tips for Treat Givers
The CDC suggests giving boxes of raisins or pretzels, something healthier that is still within the guidelines set above. While it may be tempting to drop apples and oranges, remember that it goes against the “wrapped from factory” rule that all children should adhere to eating. Make sure your walkway is free of debris and easy to navigate. Have your driveway and porch well lit. Always keep your jack-o-lanterns away from children that could injure themselves around it.
Halloween can be one of the most dangerous or most fun times in a child’s life. How you arm your child to go out into the world of trick or treating, or how you arm yourself to give out candy to all the trick-or-treaters can make all the difference.
Content Source: CDC Office of Women's Health, Page last modified: December 16, 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/
Tina Samuels - Tina Samuels specializes in health, animal, and gardening articles. She authored "A Georgia Native Plant Guide".
