Staying Safe When Trick-or-Treating

From the time they're old enough to eat candy, most kids love to go trick-or-treating. Here are some tips to keep them safe this Halloween

Although this activity is geared toward the younger set, there are many safety issues to consider. But if you and your kids are well prepared, a safe and fun time can be had by all. Here are some safety tips to remember:

Double-check your child's costume for safety issues before going out. There could be something you missed before. If you forgot to incorporate something reflective into them, pick up some reflective tape from the store and at least place it on your child's shoes and candy bag.

Young children should ideally be accompanied by a parent or other trusted adult. If that's not possible, a responsible older sibling can keep an eye on them. Children of all ages who go out without an adult should be briefed on safety just before going out the door. Kids without adult supervision should carry a cell phone in case of emergency and should be taught how to call home and dial 911. It's also prudent to send a flashlight with them, even if they are supposed to be home before dark.

All children supervised or not, should only go to homes of people that they and their parents know. They should also be advised not to go indoors unless accompanied by a parent or other trusted adult.

Children should not approach or pet unfamiliar animals. If they do, they may be in danger of being bitten or attacked.

Inspect your child's candy before he eats any of it. Throw anything that is unwrapped or appears to have been tampered with away. Tampering with candy is rare, but it's not something that it's worth taking a chance on. Besides, it doesn't take long to look over your child's stash.

For small children, remove any candy that might pose a choking hazard. Most hard candy is not safe for children under 3 years of age, and some chewy candies could be dangerous as well.

Serve dinner before sending your kids out to trick-or-treat. If their stomachs are full, they will be less likely to pop candy in their mouths while they're out. That means they won't eat candy that you haven't had a chance to inspect, not to mention fewer tummy aches!

During a fun holiday like Halloween, safety can easily end up on the back burner. But taking some simple precautions can increase your chances of having an incident-free good time.

Stay safe Ontario trick-or-treaters!

What are your Halloween safety tips?

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