(Newswire.net — October 24, 2013) Los Angeles, CA–The clocks will soon be turning back, the sky is getting darker earlier by the day and the leaves are turning brown and falling to the ground. It must be Autumn, which can mean only one thing, All Hallows Eve is just around the corner.
Halloween, or All Hallows Eve as it is also known, is a yearly celebration held on 31st October. Some of the typical activities at this time of year are trick or treating, attending costume parties, creating new carving pumpkin ideas as well as traditional lanterns. Some families like to watch horror movies and scare themselves silly. There are also some religious connotations which are explained in this Wikipedia article.
As top supermarket chains frantically remove offensive Halloween costumes from their shelves, have we turned into a nanny state or can’t we be too careful when it comes to our kids safety. How do you ensure your kids have fun and stay safe this Halloween.
For the majority of people Halloween is a time for families and children to come together and have fun dressing up in Halloween costumes. To visit their neighbours and local community to ‘trick or treat’ for candy and other treasures. But is it still safe for your kids to do this?
How well do you know your neighbours and your neighbourhood? Very well, quite well, not at all? How often do your see or speak to your neighbours? You should ask yourself these questions and have the answers before you make your plans.
To help you and your family have an exciting and safe Halloween here are some top tips from the
Trick or Treat Safety
A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighbourhood rounds.
If your older children are going out alone, plan and review a route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
Only go to homes with an outside light on and NEVER enter a home or car for a treat.
Remember to:-
Carry a mobile phone for quick communication.
Remain on well-lit streets and always use the pavement or sidewalk.
Only cross the street as a group using established crossings where possible. Never cross between parked cars.
Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
Prepare Your Home For Visitors
To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front garden anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
Wet leaves or snow should be swept from pavements, sidewalks and steps.
Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
Fancy Dress Costumes
Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with a flame.
Consider adding reflective tape or stripes to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
Because kids Halloween masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
By following these few simple common sense steps it should ensure that you and your loved ones have great fun and stay safe this year.
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