If your kids are like mine they are counting down the days until
Halloween. They may have their costumes all picked out and are
searching for the largest trick-or-treat bag or pillow case to collect the goods! Halloween is an exciting time for children, but it is also an important time to review safety issues.

Tips to Ensure a Safe Halloween

Halloween Costumes
◊ Make sure your children wear costumes that are bright and reflective. Check to see that shoes fit well and
   costumes are short enough to prevent tripping.
◊ If your kids will be trick-or-treating during the nighttime or as it is becoming dark out, add reflective tape or
   striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
◊ Masks are fun, but they can limit or block eyesight. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer
   alternatives – just make sure hats fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
◊ For those ninjas and gallant knights, if a stick or sword is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not
   sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
◊ Make sure each child and their chaperones have flashlights with fresh batteries.
◊ A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood trick-or-treating
   rounds.

The Trick-or-Treat Trail for Older Children
◊ If your older kids are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you.
◊ Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
◊ Remind older children to stay in a group while trick-or-treating.
◊ Give them a cell phone to carry for quick communication.
◊ Remind them to stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
◊ If no sidewalk is available, tell them to walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
◊ Because pedestrian injuries are so common on Halloween, remind your older kids that drivers will have trouble
   seeing trick-or-treaters. Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks and don't assume the right
   of way. Just because one car stops doesn't mean others will.

A Healthy Halloween
◊ Worried about all the sugar and sweets? A good meal just before Halloween parties and trick-or-treating may
   help prevent youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
◊ Try to wait until children are home to sort through and check the candy. Though tampering is rare, a responsible
   adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
◊ Rather than gobbling them up in one or two sittings, ration treats for the days following Halloween.

Source: Keath Low, About.com Guide, American Academy of Pediatrics. Sept. 2008