Costume
Safety
1.
To improve their visibility children should carry a flashlight or chemical light stick
and their costumes should be bright-colored or have
reflective tape to highlight them.
2.
All parts of the costume should be labeled flame
retardant.
3.
Costumes should not have trailing material or tails long
enough to be a tripping hazard.
4.
Pointed objects such as swords and devils' forks should be
made of soft material.
5.
Masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup
and decorative hats as safer alternatives.
6.
If your child wears a mask instead of make-up on their face,
double check that the eye holes are large enough to see
through clearly.
7.
Children should wear sturdy shoes and temperature
appropriate clothing underneath their costumes.
Instructions
for Children
1.
Everyone should use sidewalks where available. Always walk, never run.
2.
Cross at the street corners or crosswalks, never dart out between parked
cars.
3.
Cover one side of the street at a time, do not criss-cross.
4.
Never accept a ride in a car.
5.
Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
6.
Only approach houses where the outside lights are on as a
signal of welcome.
7.
Bring bags home to be checked by an adult before eating a
single treat.
Trick
or Treating
1.
Small children should always be with an adult.
2.
Children should carry a flashlight so they can see and be
seen.
3.
If older children are going out without you, go over the
ground rules first!
4.
Know what neighborhoods they will be in.
5.
Plan and review with your children the route and behavior
which is acceptable.
6.
Don't allow children to trick or treat in areas with which you are not
comfortable.
7.
Have children stay in a group.
8.
Let them know what time to be home.
9.
Give them change to use the telephone if necessary and make
sure they know how to call home.
10.
Review with your children the principal of "Stop, Drop,
and Roll" in case their clothing or costume catches on fire.
11.
Never accept or consume food items or drinks until checked
by an adult.
12.
Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately
of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
Checking
Treats
1.
Throw out anything that appears tampered with, home-made
foods, or home-packaged foods unless you are certain of the
source.
2.
Inspect fruit closely and take away treats that may not be
age-appropriate.
3.
Make sure items that can cause choking are given only to
those of an appropriate age. Children may
choke on things like hard candy or peanuts.
Preparations
and Decorations
1.
Use a small flashlight instead of candles.
2.
Only use flame-proof crepe paper.
3.
Keep dried leaves and cornstalks away from all flames and
heat sources.
4.
Do NOT overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or
special effects.
5.
Always keep Jack O' Lanterns away from drapes, decorations,
flammable materials or areas where children will be standing
or walking.
6.
Confine pets in areas where it will be safe for both pets
and "Trick or Treaters".
7.
Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive
slowly.
8.
Adult partygoers should establish a designated driver.
Receiving
Trick-or-Treaters
1.
Make sure your own home is well-lit and that there is a
clear path to your door. Bicycles and lawn furniture can
trip youngsters in the dark.
2.
Clear leaves from sidewalks as wet leaves create a slipping
hazard.
Fireworks:
Firecrackers,
cherry bombs, and party poppers cause many injuries and fires
on Halloween. These are dangerous and should not be used by
children, teens or adults. Besides the physical danger and the
fire hazards involved, fireworks are illegal in Georgia.
Additional
Fireworks Safety >>>
Change
Your Clock, Change Your Battery: Each
year around Halloween, we turn the clocks back one hour. This
is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke
detectors. This year, buy batteries along with your Halloween
candy.
