County Offers Safety Tips for Halloween

Halloween is creeping in. Have you picked your children’s costume yet? Is it bright? If not, don’t worry. You can always fasten reflective tape to it and you’ll be ready to go.

However, when hunting for treats it’s important you take other precautions to ensure your kids are safe while having fun.

“This Halloween, parents should think about safety as they plan their children’s costumes and activities,” said Dean Sidelinger, child health medical officer for the County Health and Human Services Agency. “Children should wear age-appropriate costumes made of flame retardant materials to avoid injury.”

Other Halloween safety tips for parents include:

• Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible
• Children should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling when trick or treating
• Older children should walk in groups and have a set time to return home, if they are not accompanied by an adult
• Teach children to look both ways when crossing streets and to use appropriate crosswalks
• Carry a flashlight
• Encourage children not to enter homes of people they do not know
• Children should not eat candy or treats until they have been inspected by an adult
• Throw away anything that looks tampered with or is unwrapped
• Do not eat homemade treats, unless you know the person who prepared them

“Since most candy comes from strangers, parents should inspect it before letting their children eat it,” added Sidelinger, who also encourages parents to not let children eat too much candy all at once.

And if you are the one giving the treats, Sidelinger said you should consider healthier alternatives or other small gifts.

“Replace the candy and chocolate with non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils. Some children will appreciate them,” he said.

—County of San Diego