Halloween Safety

Candy, candy, and candy.  Halloween is one of my childrens favorite holiday. And in just a couple of weeks, your kids will be tugging on your arm to take them trick or treating the moment they get home from school.

My children are crazy for Halloween

So, before you slip on your witches hat, please keep these 10 tips in mind for a safe and fun Halloween night.

1.) Select a safe and bright costume. Make sure your child’s costume (including beards, masks and wigs) is clearly marked as flame resistant or look for flame resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester. If the costume does not have any reflective fabric, add your own reflective tape on the back and front. Avoid billowing or long trailing features, especially those made of lightweight fabrics or materials. Your child should wear well-fitting shoes to prevent trips and falls. Costume accessories, including swords and knives, should be soft and flexible.

2.) Masks can obstruct children’s vision and restrict breathing. Consider make-up instead, checking all labels to ensure that it is non-toxic. If children do wear a mask, make sure they can see and breathe easily.

3.) Do not let children under age 12 go trick-or-treating or cross the street without the supervision of an adult on Halloween night. For guidance and safety’s sake, accompany younger children to the door of every house they visit.

4). Make sure your child has his or her own flashlight or glow stick to illuminate pathways and curbs.

5). Trick or treat with your smaller children during daylight hours.

6.) Teens should always go trick-or-treating in a group. Advise them to only stop at familiar homes with an illuminated outdoor light. Remind teens that they should never enter a stranger’s home, car or walk in unpopulated areas. At least one child in their group should have a fully charged cell phone.

7). Make sure you know where and when your teen will be trick or treating and with whom. It’s also a good idea to have the phone number of their friends’ parents in the event of an emergency.

8). Illuminate jack-o-lanterns with flashlights or glow sticks. Avoid candles as they can pose a danger for trick-or-treaters who may come in contact with the open flames and ignite their costumes.

9). Advise your child not to eat any of the candy until you have inspected it first. This is especially important if your child has any food allergies.

10). Monitor their candy intake too. You’d be surprised at how much sugar, fat and calories a single, snack size candy bar has.

And here are the dates for Beggars Night in Central Ohio 2009

Ashville

October 25

4-5:30 p.m.

Ashley

October 31

6-8 p.m.

Baltimore October 31
5-6:30 p.m.

Bexley October 29
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Blendon Township October 31
6-8 p.m.

Canal Winchester October 29
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Carroll October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Clintonville October 29
6-8 p.m.

Columbus October 29
6-8 p.m.

Commercial Point October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Concord Township October 29
6-8 p.m.

Delaware October 31
6-8 p.m.

Dublin October 29
6-8 p.m.

Gahanna October 29
6-8 p.m.

Galena October 31
6-7:15 p.m.
Costume party at Ruffner Park will follow at 7:30 p.m.

Genoa Township October 31
6-8 p.m.

Grandview Heights October 31
6-8 p.m.

Granville October 31
5:30-7 p.m.

Grove City October 29
6-8 p.m.

Groveport October 29
5:30-7 p.m.

Hamilton Township October 31
6-8 p.m.

Heath October 29
5:30-7 p.m.
Mall-O-Ween, Indian Mound Mall October 30, 6-8 p.m.

Hebron October 29
5:30-7 p.m.

Hilliard October 29
6-8 p.m.

Jefferson Township October 29
6-8 p.m.

Johnstown October 29
6:30-8 p.m.

Lancaster October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Lewis Center October 31
6-8 p.m.

Lithopolis October 29
6-8 p.m.

Lockbourne October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Madison Township October 29
5-7:30 p.m.

Marble Cliff October 31
6-8 p.m.

Mifflin Township October 29
6-8 p.m.

Milford Center October 31
6-8 p.m.

Minerva Park October 29
6-8 p.m.

New Albany October 29
6-8 p.m.

New Concord October 31
6-7 p.m.

Newark October 29
5:30-7 p.m.

Norwich Township October 29
6-8 p.m.

Obetz October 31
6-8 p.m.

Orange Township October 31
6-8 p.m.

Pataskala October 29
6-8 p.m.

Pickerington October 29
6-8 p.m.

Plain City October 31
6-8 p.m.

Powell October 31
6-8 p.m.

Prairie Township October 29
6-8 p.m.

Reynoldsburg October 29
6-8 p.m.

Shawnee Hills October 29
6-8 p.m.

Sunbury October 31
6-8 p.m.

Upper Arlington October 29
6-8 p.m.

Utica October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Westerville October 31
6-8 p.m.

West Jefferson October 29
6-7:30 p.m.

Whitehall October 29
6-8 p.m.

Worthington October 29
6-8 p.m.