Tag: Halloween Safety

W.Va. State Police Advise Caution For A Happy Halloween

With All Hallow’s Eve approaching, the West Virginia State Police provided the public with some safety tips.

Ahead of Halloween activities, the West Virginia State Police released a list of safety tips to help ensure a safe and happy Halloween.

They advise any children under 12 years old should be accompanied by an adult during trick-or-treating activities.

Participants should only cross streets when it is safe to do so and at crossing locations. The state police also advised drivers to be aware of children crossing roadways and suggested parents add reflective tape to costumes to help with visibility at night.

The state police reminded drivers and pedestrians alike not to be distracted by electronic devices during the hours designated for Halloween activities.

Finally, they advise parents should inspect all candy and treats collected by children before consumption.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Tips and tricks for a safe Halloween

A princess, a superhero, a monster, or a ghost. No matter what you’re child has chosen to don on Halloween this year, as a parent safety is a top priority. Here’s a list of the top ten safety tips for you and your child this holiday:

  1. Choose bright costumes- plan costumes with your child that are bright colors or add reflective tape to costumes and bags or carry a flashlight to make children more visible to drivers
  2. Avoid baggy costumes- choose a costume that fits and avoid large mask that may prevent your child from being fully aware of his or her surroundings
  3. Flame resistance- while shopping, choose costumes that are labeled “flame resistant”
  4. Always test makeup- test makeup on a small area of skin before applying to larger areas to know how skin will react to the product; remove it before children go to bed to avoid skin and eye irritation
  5. Safety with accessories- swords, knives or similar accessories should be short, soft and flexible to avoid injury
  6. Accompany your child- escort your child whenever possible or create a trick-or-treat-plan with older children outlying where they can go; assure older children are always in a group and at least one person in the group has a cell phone
  7. Know your neighborhood- only visit homes that are well lit, remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk; if a sidewalk is not available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic and always look both ways when crossing the street
  8. Do not enter a home- do not allow children to enter any home unless you accompany them
  9. Examine all treats- check treats for choking hazards and tampering before allowing a child to eat them; never accept a treat if it is unwrapped or looks as if it has been opened
  10. Make a clear path- when passing out candy, make sure your home is well lit and has a clear path to the entrance to avoid tripping trick-or-treaters

These tips were compiled form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
 

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