Ensuring that all the ghosts and goblins enjoy their
trick-or-treating this year is the goal of a Connecticut SAFE KIDS,
a program of Connecticut Children's Medical Center, that is
sponsored by the Connecticut Elks Association.
Connecticut SAFE KIDS offers tips for parents on selecting their
child's costume, choosing a safe route for them to follow and
carefully examining all the treats brought home. These
recommendations include:
- Go trick-or-treating while it is still light. It will begin to
get dark at about 5:30 pm on Halloween.
- Choose a costume that makes it easy for the child to walk, see
and be seen. That means the youngster should wear regular shoes
or sneakers, and that the costume should include white or light
color materials. Even if you plan to be finished before it
becomes dark, add reflective tape to the costume. The costume
should be short enough to avoid tripping.
- Try to use makeup instead of a mask. If your child wears a
mask, make sure it fits well and does not obstruct the
children's field of vision.
- Each child should carry a flashlight. Not only will the
flashlight be useful for illuminating the sidewalk or path after
darkness sets in, it will also make it easier for motorists to
see the child. Never carry a candle or allow the costume near
any open flame.
- A responsible adult or teenager should accompany all children.
If children go trick-or-treating in groups, the group size
should be limited to four or five children so the adult can
exercise effective control.
- Cross streets only at corners and obey all traffic rules,
signs and signals. Never cross mid-block and never allow a child
to dart out from behind a parked vehicle.
- Select a pre-established route that will be properly lit and
have little or slow-moving traffic.
- Restrict trick-or-treating to homes with porch or outside
lights.
- If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic. Stop and look
both ways at all corners; never dart out from between parked
cars.
Before leaving home, children should be reminded of the following
safety precautions:
- Never enter a stranger's house, even if invited.
- Teach children their phone number and set a time that they
will be returning home.
- Walk, don't run. The costumes and handling all those treats
can upset a youngster's balance.
- Never eat any treats until an adult has inspected them.
Motorists should remember that children often do the unexpected.
Drivers should be very cautious, go slowly in residential areas and
give pedestrians the right of way. For added safety, they should
also turn on their vehicle's headlights well before dusk. Once at
their destination, motorists should try to park their vehicle off
the street to avoid blocking the view of other drivers.
Connecticut SAFE KIDS reminds all parents and motorists that
keeping Halloween safe is a responsibility shared by every adult.
Fortunately, all it takes is simple planning and some extra caution
to keep Halloween a magical evening for children everywhere.
