FIVE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE AT HALLOWEEN
By Jozef Machnicki
Halloween is a wonderful time for children. That`s obvious to anyone who sees their
delight as they make their lanterns and get into costume before a night`s trick
or treating.
As parents we all want them to have a memorable night on October 31st. But there
are certain things we must all be aware of to make sure it`s not memorable for the
wrong reasons.
Here is our simple guide to keeping children safe and making sure they have as much
fun as possible.
The first thing we should remember is the clocks go back on October 31st, so the
nights will be closing in as hordes of Draculas and Frankensteins hit the streets.
It will be dark by the time they set out, so
make sure they are wearing something
bright, or even fluorescent. You could incorporate it into their costume.
For example we are giving away fluorescent whistles with every purchase before Halloween
(while stocks last), but there are countless other possibilities, such as tridents
and horns.
Secondly, with the darkness comes a visibility problem, so children will have to
be
extra vigilant when crossing the road.
They will need to observe basic road safety rules like not crossing between parked
cars, and should ideally cross the road in groups.
We also suggest avoiding masks in costumes, because they can limit a child`s range
of vision. It is much safer to go down the face paint route – as long as the paint
is non-toxic of course.
Adult supervision is recommended, because it should eliminate the
problem of road safety, and give the children some added protection when going to
unfamiliar houses.
The old adage `safety in numbers` could not be more apt at Halloween, so make sure
your trick or treaters stick together while they are out.
They should not visit properties in darkness or without any Halloween decorations,
because those homeowners are sending a signal they do not want to be disturbed.
And children should not approach any pet or animal they are not familiar with.
You should always
check the treats before they are devoured, particularly
for children with
food allergies.
They could easily have been given a treat with peanuts, for example, and are not
likely to check the ingredients themselves.
And finally, naked flames will be a risk, as many will have left pumpkin lanterns
outside their homes, so
ensure costumes are flame-retardant and
meet all UK safety standards.
So, to summarise, the five tips to observe to keep young people safe at Halloween
are:
* Wear bright, or even fluorescent, clothing to help
them stand out
* Take extra care crossing roads in darkness
* Adult supervision and sticking together is to be recommended
* Check treats before consuming
* Ensure costumes are flame-retardant
Have a great Halloween everyone!