Keeping Your Ghosts and Goblins Safe

Halloween decor has taken over the store aisles which means trick or treaters will soon be on their way. If you have children or pets, this is the time to consider both the fun and the safety factors to ensure an evening of treats�and no tricks or accidents.

Tips for Children

• Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Look for fire proof or retardant costumes and materials. Also, the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.
• If possible, place reflective stickers on your kids' costumes that help drivers see them more easily. Kids and/or their parents should carry flashlights to signal oncoming cars or for use on spooky walk-ways.
• If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids' costumes won't accidentally be set on fire.
• Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.
• Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.
• Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to, will help make them safer when they are out Trick or Treating.

Tips for Adults

• Know the route your children will be taking if you aren't going with them. If you can't take them, see if another parent or a teen-aged sibling can go along.
• Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties, school or mall functions.
• Make sure you set a time that they should be home and advise them how important it is for them to be prompt.
• Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem like fun but they need to know the other side of the coin as well; clean up and damages can ruin Halloween. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they have made.
• Explain to your kids that animal cruelty is not acceptable. They may know this on their own but peer pressure can be a bad thing.

Tips for Your Pets

• Leaving your pets outside on Halloween is not a god idea. Sadly, there are tales of those who will do harm to your beloved animal. Not to mention that dogs and cats can scare easily with all the trick-or-treaters coming to your house. Here are some tips to keep your pets happy on Halloween.
• As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candies, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount.
• The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pet's digestive tract and make them ill or cause death.

• Dogs can have lethal tails, wagging all over the place. Don't leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat.
• If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. Having people at the door constantly will likely upset them so be cautious.
• Placing a face mask on your animal is not a good idea. Animals depend on their vision to let them know what's going on and even the nicest dog can get snippy if he can't see what's around him.
• Having an indoor party? Secure your dog or cat in a room where they won't be disturbed. Unless your pet is ultra friendly and doesn't mind loud noises, music and lots of people, you should keep them separate for the night. Keep in mind that pets can be frightened by masks and scary costumes.
• Also, be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart out through the open door as you hand out candy. The best bet is to put them in a room with some food and water for the night and check on them once in a while to let them know everything is fine.
• Avoid leaving your pets outside in the backyard on Halloween night so they don�t become a victim to the occasional prankster or fowl play.

Extrapolated from halloween-safety.com