Halloween Candy Safety Tips
Parents should take precautions about Halloween candy safety, but its also important to have a realistic sense of harm. Its easy for the media to give us the sense that the world is a more menacing place than it really is. In the 1980s, a myth spread about the serious risk of troubled people using poison and razor blades to tamper with Halloween candy. Almost all reports were discredited.
But no amount of debunking can completely alleviate parent anxiety. After all, however rare, it could happen. Some Halloween candy safety precautions include:
- For young children, remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
- Instruct your children to show you all their candy before eating it so that you can carefully inspect it for tampering.
- Tell your children not to accept or eat anything that isnt commercially wrapped.
- Throw out candy or treats that are homemade, unwrapped, or have torn wrapping.
And managing the Halloween candy craze? First, to reduce trick-or-treat munching, give your children a snack or light meal before you leave the house. Decide ahead of time how many pieces of candy they can eat on Halloween night.
Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips
- Carve pumpkins on stable, flat surfaces with good lighting.
- Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin and then do the cutting yourself.
- Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended.
- If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that childrens costumes wont accidentally set on fire.
- Artificial lights and candles are a safer alternative to real candles.
Halloween Costume Safety Tips
- If possible, have your children wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
- If your child is carrying a prop, such as sword or pitchfork, make sure that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if your child falls on them.
- Avoid long, baggy, or loose costumes to prevent tripping.
- Insist that your children wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Mom’s high heels are better for costume parties, not trick-or-treating.
- Securely fit hats and scarves to prevent them from slipping over your childrens eyes.
- Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have your child wear a mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If you use a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
BE SAFE WITH YOUR ANIMALS!