The little ghosts and goblins in all of us enjoy the grandeur the end of October brings! Trick-or-treating, dressing up for parties, and carving pumpkins all have some simple safety guidelines to be considered. This Halloween, make sure you consider the guidelines and by all means have a fun, enjoy yourself and be safe.
Safety Tips:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following for kids who are trick-or-treating:
Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them.
Only purchase costumes, masks, beards and wigs that have the "Flame Resistant" label. This doesn't guarantee that an item wont catch fire, but it indicates that it will resist burning and can be easily extinguished.
Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Make sure costumes are light and bright enough to be clearly seen by drivers.
Decorate costumes and candy bags with reflective tape that will reflect in a car's headlights.
Make sure children carry flashlights so they can easily see and be seen.
Don't outfit children in costumes that are too long and could cause them to trip and fall.
Dress children in sturdy shoes that fit well. Shoes like high heels should not be part of a child's Halloween costume.
Use face paint or makeup instead of masks, to ensure good vision and easy breathing. If you choose to use a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eye-holes large enough to enable full vision.
Secure items like hats and scarves so that they wont slip over children's eyes.
Make sure that accessories like swords and knives are made of soft, flexible material.
Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older child.
Warn children not to run out from between parked cards or across lawns, where they could run into things like clotheslines and ornaments.
Only allow children to go to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.
Warn children to never enter homes when trick-or-treating.
If you are expecting trick-or-treaters, remove anything that could be an obstacle from your lawn, steps or porch. Keep candlelit jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Keep indoor jack-o'-lanterns should away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings.
You should always know the route that your children will be taking if you aren't accompanying them on their trick-or-treating adventure. It's also a good idea to make sure they have dinner before going out to collect treats& this will lessen their temptation to start digging into their candy before you've had a chance to inspect it.
Adults who are dressing up for Halloween should also choose costumes that fit securely, allow full vision, and aren't likely to catch fire and, if you're going to a party, be sure to choose a designated driver in advance.
If your holiday celebration includes pumpkin carving, have children draw faces on their pumpkins, and do the carving for them. Pumpkin carving can be dangerous even for adults, especially when it's done with a regular kitchen knife. Special pumpkin carving kits are easily available around Halloween, and they include saw-like knives that cut through pumpkin rind more easily and are less sharp than regular knives.
Have a Safe & Happy Holiday!
Garren Grup, REALTOR®, GRI...
Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero & Fort Myers!
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