Yankee Halloween Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

It's that time again when children enjoy dressing up and roaming the neighborhoods, trick-or-treating in search of some of their favorite candy. To keep your little goblins safe, just take a minute and read Yankee Halloween's Safety Tips for Halloween...! Have a great and safe time this Halloween season. Booooo.....!!!

Trick-or-Treaters

Carry a bright flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths.
Use fresh flashlight batteries. Check it BEFORE you leave the house.
Chemical GLOW in the DARK LIGHT STICKS can be used along with flashlights.
Go to the bathroom just before going trick and treating.
Always WALK, do not run. You can slip and fall down... OUCH...!!!
Stay on the Sidewalks.
(If their is no sidewalk) walk on the left side of the road.
Walk SINGLE file, facing the traffic.
Obey ALL local traffic signals.
Cross only at corners, with adults.
DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT wear and use rollerblades to go out trick-or-treating.
You can trip on your costume, fall because of uneven sidewalks, and crash into other Halloween trick-or-treaters using the crowded sidewalks. You will have problems with yard decorations and climbing porch stairs. Its very dark outside, and you cannot see or react fast enough to a sudden problem. You will become the problem in an ambulance going to the hospital with broken bones. OUCH and DOUBLE OUCH...!!!
DO NOT assume you have the right of way.
Because one car stops, doesn't mean others will...!
Trick-or-Treat only in familiar neighborhoods.
DO NOT cut across strangers yards or driveways. Trip on hoses, rakes...!
Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
Set the watch alarm if you have time limit for Trick-or-Treating.
Make sure your costumes don't drag on the ground.
You could trip and hurt yourself. OUCH Again...!!!
Wear comfortable walking shoes, and they should fit properly.
Make sure your shoe laces are tighted tight. You can trip...!!!
Avoid wearing your mask while walking from house to house.
Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props.
Avoid pointed props such as spears, or wands that endanger other children's eyes.
Wear clothing and costumes with reflective tape or "Glow in the Dark" markings.
A flashing In Sight At Night Safety Strobe Light can also be attached to children AND adult costumes. Proper SAFETY knows no age barrier...!
Visit houses that have lights on, especially houses with Halloween decorations.
Always use the front door, NEVER go to the back of a house.
Stay away from any animals that you don't know.
Please don't pet animals you know or don't know you.
Always carry a spare Halloween bag just in case yours breaks.
It would be very upsetting for you to lose all those delicious collected treats.
Always be polite. And don't forget to say "Thank You".

Parents

Make sure your child eats a good dinner before going out Trick-or-Treating. They need proper energy tonight...!!!
If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
Make sure you work into your child's OR adult Halloween costume, reflector strips, a FLASHING safety light or the very popular GLOW LIGHT STICKS to make everyone more visible and much safer at night. SAFETY FIRST tonight of all nights...!
Teach your child how call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free at any payphone.
Bring your child for a visit to your local police or fire department.
Children should carry several quarters so they can call home.
Let them borrow the FULLY CHARGED family cell phone, with home number ready.
Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult.
If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably one that can be read in the dark.
Set their watch alarm if you have time limit for Trick-or-Treating.
DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT allow your children to wear and use rollerblades to go out trick-or-treating.
They can trip on the costume, fall because of uneven sidewalks, and crash into other Halloween trick-or-treaters using the crowded sidewalks. They will have problems with yard decorations, and climbing porch stairs. Its very dark outside, and they cannot see or react fast enough to a sudden problem. They will become the problem in an ambulance going to the hospital with broken bones. OUCH and DOUBLE OUCH...!!!
Avoid streets under construction. There are holes and pits. Use common sense.
Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.
Older children should trick-or-treat in groups.
You should know WHERE they're going and with WHO they are going with.
Although product tampering is rare, tell the children to bring ALL the candy home to be inspected BEFORE consuming anything.
Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks like tampering.
If you child has an ALLERGY, VERY IMPORTANT to look at the ingredients of the treats they bring home.
Limit the amount of treats they consume on Halloween to avoid any sickness.

Homeowners

Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, garden hoses, dog leashes and low flower pots. These objects can trip the young trick-or-treater.
Be sure the path and stairs to your front door are well illuminated and clear of obstacles. Double check ALL the outside lights...!!!
Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them in a kennel tonight, to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater. OUCH...!!!
GLOW LIGHT STICKS or battery powered jack-o-lantern light are preferable to real flame candles.
If you do use candles, place the carved jack-o-lantern well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Make sure that paper or cloth decorations won't be blown into a flaming candle.
NEVER leave any flaming candle unattended.
BE PREPARED. Have a FULLY CHARGED fire extinguisher handy, just in case...! BE PREPARED.
Pass out healthy food alternatives for visiting trick-or-treaters. Include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later.
Non-food treats: PEZ candy dispensers, small note pads, pencils, pens, stickers, erasers, coins.

Halloween Party

Coordinate a neighborhood costume or pumpkin carving party. Have each parent bring a pumpkin, small grab bag present and a small snack such as cookies or brownies. You can set up various games such as:

Bobbing for apples.
Guess who carved the jack-o-lantern.
Guess the number of jellybeans in a canning jar.
Guess who is dressed under the costume.
Halloween Charades Party Game. Lots of party tips and suggestions...!!!

Have a ghost story telling sessions with the lights down low and playing Halloween spooky music in the background...!!! Of course the person telling the story should be wearing a "spirited ghost" costume...! Have a great HALLOWEEN.

Pet and Animal Owners

Halloween can be a very traumatic and even dangerous time for your pet.
Don't leave your pet out in the yard on Halloween.
Many strangers visiting in strange costumes can be scary for a dog.
Be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart outside when you open the door.
DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT dress the dog or cat in a Halloween costume.
This action puts a lot of STRESS on the animal...!!!
Trick-or-treat candies OF ANY TYPE are not for pets.
Chocolate is poisonous to a lot of animals.
Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
Please visit the ASPCA's Web site at http://www.aspca.org.
Pranksters have teased, injured, and even stolen pets.
Make sure that they know that harming animals is not only morally wrong but punishable by law and will not be tolerated.

Halloween Drivers

Drive and go slow, slow, slow all evening.
NO ONE should drive a vehicle while wearing a Halloween mask of any type.
CAUTION: Young trick-or-treaters may dart out in front of you.
Obey ALL traffic signals, both as a driver and a pedestrian.
Adult Halloween parties should have a designated driver.
If you drive a long distance, make arrangements to stay over.
DO NOT follow the example of the CRASHING WITCH...!!! Ouch. Ouch.. OUCH...!!!

To ALL Halloween Trick-or-Treaters and Parents

Have lots of Halloween fun, take care of yourself, get more candy than your friends (or much as possible) and share with your parents and other members of your family.

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