SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Here are ten safety tips to keep Halloween "scary and fun, not scary and dangerous," from American Medical Response:
- Parents should help with costume selections, which should be flame retardant, sturdy and warm.
- Children's faces should not be obstructed. AMR says make-up is a better bet than masks that make it difficult to see, hear or breathe.
- Reflective tape should be added to a child's costume so her or she will be easier to see, and avoid dark costumes or camouflage.
- Children should wear flat shoes that fit well. Shoes with high heels or over-sized shoes can cause a safety hazard.
- Children should always be accompanied by adults.
- Children should trick-or-treat in well-lit areas and bring flashlights to use while walking between houses.
- Trick-or-treaters should stay on the sidewalks wherever available and should walk facing the traffic, and obey other pedestrian rules.
- Approach only those homes with porch lights or other outside lights on near the front door.
- Do not allow children to eat any treats until an adult has examined the contents of each bag.
- Do not eat anything suspicious, including commercially-wrapped candy that may have been unwrapped and then re-wrapped.
