Be the real hero this Halloween and spread the word of safety to others.
- Carve safely! Carving pumpkins can be tons of fun for kids, but make sure that all carving activities are fully supervised by an adult.
- Use flameless candles. They’re safe, inexpensive and just like the real thing—without the fire risk.
- Ensure others can see your children. If possible, create costumes out of bright colors. But if you must go over to the Dark Side, place reflective strips or tape in strategic places on your child’s costume, much like equipping a bike with reflectors.
- Ensure your child can see others. A mask can obstruct your child’s peripheral vision, increasing the chance that they will trip or bump into objects.
- Don’t let children under the age of 12 trick-or-treat alone. Enough said!
- Set ground rules for older children. No one should leave the house without agreeing when to be back and what route to use. Provide them with a cell phone and a flashlight with fresh batteries and review basic safety rules, including staying with the group, walking only on the sidewalk, approaching only clearly lit homes, and never going inside a home or car for a treat.
- Inspect treats before indulging.Discard torn packages, unsealed treats or anything that just doesn’t look right.
- Make your house trick-or-treat friendly. Don’t be that one house on the block that everyone’s afraid of because the dog barks and lunges at people and the porch light is out. Before it gets dark, clean up the yard and the walkway and check to ensure the outside lights work. Place the pets in a safe room away from the front door.
For more information visit: www.mayoclinic.org
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
