Trick-or-Treating This Halloween? Don't Forget, Safety First!

Halloween is a festive time of year, especially for children, but it is also an important time to increase vigilance and be on the lookout for possible safety hazards so take the necessary steps to ensure that Halloween celebrations remain safe and fun for all participants.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has provided tips to help guarantee a safe holiday this Halloween. These tips include:

• Planning costumes that are bright and reflective;
• Making sure that shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame; 
• Adding reflective tape, striping, or glow sticks to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility; 
• Obtaining flashlights with fresh and spare batteries for all children and their escorts; and 
• Teaching children to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
   

By implementing simple precautions this Halloween, we can ensure that this fun holiday can be celebrated safely by children and families alike. For more information on how to make this Halloween safe and fun, is available at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.