Halloween safety tips

Each year when ghosts and goblins come out to play, parents need to take extra precautions to keep their kids safe. The last thing anybody wants to think about is an injury on Halloween night, but a little preparation can keep you on the trick or treat trail and out of the emergency room.

There are so many types of costumes available now and the safety level of commercial costumes is much better than it was years ago. Make sure costumes are age appropriate, check for fire and choking hazards and make sure the costume fits the child well.
When you plan your trick or treat route, make sure stay in familiar neighborhoods. “We make sure we stay in a neighborhood we know,” said Lana Sanders, an Horry County mom. “We visit our parents and family and we just try to stick to good neighborhoods that we know that are well lit and have a lot of kids in them.“

Other safety tips include:

-Carry a flashlight
-Use face paints instead of masks which can block your eyes
-Wear light-colored clothing
-Only visit houses with lights on  
-It’s best if adults take children trick or treating
-Walk on Sidewalks
-Use Glow Sticks In Jack-o-Lanterns
-Don’t Bother Pets

For the past several years, a lot of people choose to take their kids to the malls and other commercial areas instead of neighborhoods. But either way, just keep an eye on them and don’t let them eat anything until you get home and inspect it.