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8 Tips for Staying Safe on Halloween

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Halloween is a holiday that most kids look forward to every year, but while collecting candy is fun, it’s important to be safe on the spookiest night of the year.

Here are eight tips to ensure your children and their friends can enjoy a peaceful Halloween:

 

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      1. Plan out the trick or treating route ahead of time
        When it comes to Halloween, you may not only stick to your neighborhood or local area. To avoid stress and panic, come up with a path to take that sticks with streets you’re familiar with and make sure they are in well lit areas. Do this a few days beforehand and run through it with your kids a few times so they understand the plan.
      2. Have on comfortable footwear
        Your child’s costume might come with boots or heels that complete the look, but Halloween is an event where everyone needs to not only be comfortable, but also wear shoes that are easy to walk in. Sneakers are the best way to go. Make sure laces are double-knotted to avoid tripping.
      3. Avoid masks
        Many costumes have masks, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Marvel superheroes. While they are cool, they can hinder your child’s ability to see and breathe. Either choose a different costume or if you’re feeling a little creative, use non-toxic face paint to complete the look; there are many DIY makeup tutorials on YouTube.
      4. Stay on the sidewalks or paths
        Just because millions of kids are running around, doesn’t mean the roads are closed. Keep everyone on the sidewalks at all times. If there are no sidewalks, walk in the direction of oncoming traffic as far to the left as possible; better to be squished together than risk injury.
      5. If you’re driving, slow down.
        Go at a slow pace in residential neighborhoods and keep an eye out for children at all times. Kids can get overly excited and dart out into the road. Keep your headlights on and avoid any distractions, such talking on your cellphone.
      6. Look before you cross
        In order to get from one side of the road to the other safely, always cross at street corners. Busier urban areas will have traffic signals and crosswalks. Look both ways before and as you cross.
      7. Carry a flashlight or glowsticks
        Even with street lamps, some areas can be pretty dark. Bring a flashlight or glow sticks so you can see and others can see you. Many phone models have built in flashlights nowadays, but it’s always good to have an actual flashlight just in case; make sure to bring extra batteries too.
      8. Use the buddy system
        It’s important to stick with the group. As kids get older, they might not want their parents to accompany them for trick or treating, but a chaperone is a must. If no one is available to do so, make sure your child will be with their friends the whole evening; if you need to get a hold of your child for any reason, make sure they have a fully charged cellphone with them in case of emergencies.

Jessica Baker is a Journalism and Emerging Media major at KSU and an intern at Hers Magazine as well as AllWrite Publishing.

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