Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Melanie Saunders: For many kids, Halloween is the perfect holiday when they get to dress up in silly or outrageous costumes and go trick or treating for free candy and by following a few safety guidelines, parents and caregivers can keep their little ghosts and goblins safe and happy. Valentino Tramonti is with Health Canada.

Valentino Tramonti: With the excitement of Halloween it's sometimes easy to forget about safely. Parents and caregivers should ensure that the costumes their children are wearing are safe. They should also inspect all candy before children eat any of it.

Melanie Saunders: Brightly colored costumes that will be clearly visible to motorists are the best choices.

Valentino Tramonti: Look for end use costumes, beards and wigs that are made of nylon or heavyweight polyester as these fabrics burn less rapidly when in contact with the flame source. Also some of these maybe labeled Flame Resistant, but remember flame resistant doesn't mean fire proof. Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or long flowing skirts or ones made of sheer or paper like material. This minimizes the risk of contact with candles or other flame sources. Make up and face paint are better as face masks can restrict vision and breathing and it's also a good idea to incorporate some reflective tape into the costume. If your child is carrying a prop such as a swords, or pitch-fork, make sure the tips or ends are smooth and flexible enough not to cause injury.

Melanie Saunders: When it's time to go trick or treating, it's a good idea for kids to go with an adult and stay within familiar neighborhoods.

Valentino Tramonti: Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has a reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to drivers. It's very important to tell kids never to go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. It's also important that they should stay as a group if they are trick or treating without an adult.

Melanie Saunders: The candy can easily be described as the best part of Halloween but it's important for parents to inspect the loot before the kids dig in.

Valentino Tramonti: Throw out any treats that are not wrapped or that have torn or loose packaging. It's also a good idea to check toys and novelty items for safety. Do not give any toys with small parts to children under three years of age.

Melanie Saunders: By following these simple steps parents and kids can celebrate Halloween safely. For more Halloween safety tips, visit Health Canada on the web at www.healthcanada.ca. Melanie Saunders reporting.


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