Halloween: Red Cross Outlines Tips For Safe Trick-or-Treating

Stay Safe and Enjoy The Halloween

Halloween is one of the most awaited holidays for little kids and also for adults as well. Kids love the thought of wearing their fave scary costume and of course the treats make them excited. Little children take the streets carrying their orange little pumpkin basket and knocking neighbors’ doors. However, though they look cute and adorable as little witches, ghosts, pirates and super heroes, parents must ensure their children are safe and not expose to danger.

That is why, the American Red Cross has outlined tips to keep trick or treaters safe this Halloween. It is wise to stay safe while enjoying the festivities.

Here are the top tips for parents to keep in mind while getting kids ready for Halloween:

  1. Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen. It is highly recommended to use face makeup instead of masks. Masks can make it hard to see and likelihood tipping down is high especially for toddlers. Let children have their own flashlight to light their way and add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags is a must as well. – Have everyone wear light-colored clothing.
  2. Costumes should be light and flame-resistant to avoid accidents
  3. Planning a route is also important for parents to monitor children they are going. Do not let your children wander around on their own. Parent or any adult should accompany young children door-to-door in neighborhoods.
  4. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs. That is why it always advisable to accompany the little ones.
  5. Walk, don’t run. Children can be overwhelmed with excitement and prompt them not to run but enjoy the trick or treat fun activity.
  6. Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door but never go inside.
  7. Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. – If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. – Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. – Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. – Don’t cross between parked cars. – Use extra caution if driving. The youngsters are excited and may forget to look both ways before crossing.
  8. As parents, be vigilant about the goodies and make sure to check the goodies before eating. In this way, allergies flare out will be avoided and discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with. And finally, for those planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to their homes, follow these safety steps:
  9. Light the area well so young visitors can see.
  10. Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

My Own View: Why Children Loves Halloween

As a parent, I have observed that its not only my daughter who is fascinated by Halloween’s trick or treat fun activity but almost all little children. I think they love the thought of collecting candies and goodies and at the same time wearing masks and make up stir their imagination about scary stuff.

My daughter still have a vivid memories about her experience about the trick and treat activity when she was two years old. She cannot forget the little orange pumpkin that is full of goodies after visiting stores inside the mall, together with their cousins. Full of awe and excitement counting her goodies, she was so happy about that experience. What followed after that one was so many nights asking me to tell her a story about the little orange pumpkin. It is a repetitive story and it is always entitled the “The Little Orange Pumpkin.”

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn’t preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.