Watauga County Safe Kids offers
trick-or-treat tips
By Melanie Davis
Costumes and candy make Halloween a fun holiday for
children, but parents should monitor their children’s
trick-or-treat excursions and candy consumption closely to
ensure safety.
Recommendations from Watauga County Safe Kids and Blowing
Rock Fire & Rescue say trick-or-treat is a good opportunity
to teach young children pedestrian safety, such as walking
facing traffic and crossing only in marked crosswalks. Children
should be accompanied by an adult up to a minimum age of 10.
Parents could allow preteens some independence by going along,
but agreeing to stay at a distance.
Teenagers going out without an adult should be trick-or-treating
in a group on a predetermined route. Pick-up and drop-off
points can be planned ahead. Safe Kids also recommends taking
advantage of the text message feature on most cellular phones
and asking teens to check-in on the hour.
Costumes have potential safety concerns to be addressed when
selecting the right one. Light-colored costumes are more visible
to motorists after dark. A proper fit will prevent tripping.
Props, such as wands or swords, are recommended to be of a
pliable material like foam. Masks can limit peripheral vision.
Safe Kids recommends trying face paint as an alternative.
Children should also carry a flashlight or glow stick to aid
visibility.
It just isn’t trick-or-treat without the treats. Parents
can limit the number of treats consumed on the night of Halloween,
by planning dinner or a nutritious snack just prior to going
out. Often parents set a ground rule of no eating candy until
it has been inspected. Homemade treats, like cupcakes and
brownies, should be thrown out unless a parent knows the person
who made them. Safe Kids says allowing children to sort the
candy and then setting a limit on per day consumption is good
way to prevent overindulgence.
Those answering doors for little ghosts and goblins also have
an active role in children’s safety. Homeowners should
clear a path to the front door, removing stray toys, leaves
and twigs. The area leading up to the front door should be
well-lit, with jack-o-lanterns off to the side to prevent
a fire hazard to flowing costumes. Pets should be kept inside
for both their safety and the safety of visitors.
When purchasing candy to give out, Safe Kids reminds homeowners
that peanuts, tree nuts, milk and eggs are common allergies
and ingredients to avoid.
Motorists in residential neighborhoods should take extra care
to reduce speeds and keep an eye out for small children who
may dart into the roadway. According to the American Academy
of Pediatrics, pedestrian injuries are the most common child
injury on Halloween.
With vigilance and increased visibility, everyone can make
Halloween a safe, fun night for Watauga children.
|
Get Firefox