Kids love the magic of Halloween: Trick-or-treating, classroom parties and trips to a neighborhood haunted house. But for moms and dads, there is a fine line between Halloween fun and safety. The National Safety Council said darting or running into the road accounts for about 70 percent of pedestrian deaths or injuries for those ages 5 to 9 and about 47 percent of incidents for those 10 to 14. To help ensure Morongo Basin adults and children have a safe Halloween, Z107.7 News has a list of dos and don’ts on the trick-or-treat trail:
· A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
· If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you.
· Agree on a specific time when children should return home.
· Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
Children and adults are reminded put electronic devices down, keep your heads up and walk, don’t run, across streets.
For motorists:
· Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.
· Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
· At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.
Trick-or-Treating:
· Instruct your children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and avoid trick-or-treating alone.
· Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
· Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home.
Costumes:
· All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
· If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags to make sure they are visible.
· When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first.
· Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation
