Every Halloween is filled with scary movies, monsters and mild mayhem. From creepy crawlers dangling at doors to eerie music playing outside of haunted houses, there are always plenty of thrills and chills to scare even the bravest of Halloween enthusiasts. But while most frights are fun and frivolous, others can be more serious if you’re not prepared. Here’s some tips to keep your spooky night safe, from parties to trick-or-treating:
- When using dry ice in a punch bowl, keep the chips out; if ingested, they can cause severe injury. Refer to these dry ice safety suggestions from the National Weather Service.
- Dried flowers, cornstalks, crepe paper and other decorations are highly flammable. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you keep them well away from all open flames, such as lighted pumpkins, and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters.
Drivers:
- Watch for children darting in and out of parked cars.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
Parents:
- Have an adult or responsible older child supervise trick-or-treating outings for kids under 12.
- Instruct your children to only travel in familiar areas and along established routes and to approach well-lit homes while trick-or-treating.
- Use a flashlight to see better in the dark and help others see you.
- If possible, only walk on the sidewalk or far edge of the road facing traffic.
- Remind kids never to enter a stranger’s home.
- Tell children to refrain from eating any treats until they get home.
- Carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of emergency.
Costume design:
- Only allow children to wear fire-retardant costumes and masks that do not obstruct vision.
- Make sure costumes are loose so that children can wear warm layers underneath.
- If kids will be out after dark, use light-colored materials or retro-reflective tape to increase visibility.
For more Halloween safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s Web site, www.nfpa.org.
