Really, most of these tips are no-brainers - but brushing up on the basics of Halloween safety in the run-up to Halloween night never hurt anyone, right? Right!
According to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), most serious Halloween-related injuries
involve burns from flammable costumes and decorations, and open flames, such as candles and Jack O'Lanterns, as well as abrasions from sharp objects attached to masks
or costumes. To prevent any major mishaps, and to help your kids stay visable in the dark, and comfy in their costumes, follow the CPSC's basic safety tips.
Costumes:
* Buy or make costumes that are light, bright, and clearly visable in the dark, or trim costumes and/or treat bags with reflective tape (available at hardware or bicycle stores). Older kids will whine about looking like dorks, but you should be used to that by now.
* Carry flashlights.
* Have kids wear well-fitting shoes for trick-or-treating, if you possibly can.
* Tie hats, scarves, sashes, etc. securely to prevent them from slipping over kids' eyes or under their feet.
* Make sure kids can see and breathe in their masks. It is amazing how many kids will forgo oxygen and vision for fashion's sake.
* Swords, knives, wands, and other accessories should be made out of flexible materials. Real swords, knives and wands should only be wielded by parents trying to keep their kids in line.
TREATS:
* Warn kids not to eat ANYTHING until an adult has carefully "examined" or "sampled" EVERYTHING. (Tell kids Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are actually called "Cheesy Peanut Butter Cups," insist that the brown stuff is "peanut cheese," then confiscate and consume at least a dozen of them. It works for me every year!)
* Carefully examine the toys that the anti-candy families (like mine) proudly throw into your kids' treat bags. Throw out the crappy ones that look like they're from China.
DECORATIONS:
* Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps, where costumes could brush against the flame. (I've actually seen this happen. Not pretty.)
* Indoors, keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains and decorations that could catch fire. DO NOT leave burning candles unattended! Come on, people!
* Remove obstacles from lawns, steps, stoops, and porches if you expect trick-or-treaters. Do you really want to see the jack o' lantern you worked so hard on be splattered to hell by some jacked up 10-year-olds?
* Don't pull a Clark Griswold by overloading your light sockets and extension cords. That's straight amateur.
