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Safety First Follow these safety tips to make sure Halloween isn't scarier than it should be 
With all the wild parties and even wilder treat-crazed and costumed children roaming the streets, Halloween can be dangerous. Here are some basic guidelines to follow for both children and adults to make sure the holiday doesn't go sour. For Children • Pedestrian injuries are the most common while trick-or-treating. To avoid these, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that children carry flashlights and not wear masks or hats that obscure their vision. • Parents should plan kids' costumes that are bright and reflective. Costumes should also fit well to prevent tripping or contact with flame. Yolanda Fultz-Morris, a spokesperson for the CPSC, suggests finding flame resistant costumes made of polyester or nylon. "Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly," she says. • A parent or responsible adult should always accompany younger children on their neighborhood rounds. • Children should never enter unknown homes, and only trick-or-treat at well-lit or known homes. For Adults • Make sure obstacles are removed from front lawns, porches and steps so little ones don't trip when they come for candy. • Jack-o-lanterns or luminaries with candlelit flames should never be placed on walkways where they can ignite costumes. For indoor parties, keep them on a sturdy table away from curtains. • If using dry ice in the punch bowl, be sure pieces of it don't end up in drinks. It can cause serious injury if ingested. • Although it can be tempting, the FDA strongly urges against the misuse of decorative color contact lenses for costumes. It can lead to permanent eye injury or even blindness. • Look out for trick-or-treaters and drive carefully. More tips can be found online www.cpsc.gov |
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