Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe

Brookhaven Town Superintendent of Highways, Dan Losquadro, partnered up with the American Academy of Pediatrics to provide Halloween Safety Tips for parents and children to review today before going out trick-or-treating for Halloween. 

Here are the tips:

ALL DRESSED UP:

▪ 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 striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.

▪ Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives.

▪ When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

ON THE TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL

▪ If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you.

▪ Only go to homes with a well lit porch and never enter a home or car for a treat.

▪ Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters: (1.) A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. (2.) Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going. (3.) Carry a cell phone for quick communication. (4.) Remain on well lit streets and always use sidewalks.(5.) If no sidewalk is available remain at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

CARVING A NICHE

▪ Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers and then parents or a responsible adult can do the carving.

▪ Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN

▪ A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage children from filling up on Halloween treats.

▪ Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

▪ Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

All of the tip information was provided in a statement by the superintendent of highways.