Ghouls and Goblins Oh MY!! Let’s talk Halloween Safety Crisp fall is in the air and we are getting into the holiday season and one of the first holidays widely celebrated is Halloween. We need to take a moment and prepare ourselves because an evening of fun, laughter and consuming large amounts of candy can quickly take a turn for the worse. We want to be sure we are getting our fun but we can do it safely by using some of these great safety tips form Safe Kids Worldwide. http://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips. Halloween Safety Tips:Walk Safely

1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
2. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
3. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
4. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
5. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
6. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

1. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
4. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
5. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

When reading over the list of safety tips, think about the accidents that happen on a daily basis. People do have accidents when texting and driving, they get distracted while driving, people drive too fast in residential areas. There is a heightened awareness during this holiday because there are more people on foot and excitement gets the best of us and younger children will run ahead and if they dart out from between two cars, reaction times are not going to be sufficient to stop. When getting home and looking at the beloved loot, remember to make sure that all candy is wrapped and dispose of any homemade, unwrapped or questionable packaging due to contamination. We want to be sure to consume in small amounts out delicious candy and make sure it is safe to consume. Everyone have a safe and happy “scary” Halloween and stay safe.