How to keep your little ghouls & goblins safe on Halloween

MIAMI – Authorities across South Florida are urging trick-or-treaters and their parents to take the appropriate safety precautions before heading out to collect candy on Thursday.

Here are some tips to ensure a happy and safe Halloween:

• Make sure that children are always accompanied by an adult: There’s no substitute for direct and constant safety supervision.

• Plan your trick-or-treating so that your route is completed before dark.

• If you must trick-or-treat after dark, help ensure that everyone can be seen by using flashlights or glow sticks.

• Never use candles or lanterns with open flames.

• Be traffic alert: Stay on sidewalks, walk facing traffic, and cross streets only at intersections.

• If you are driving on Halloween night, be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters. Use extreme caution and drive slowly.

• Trick-or-treat in a group and stay together: Only approach houses that have outside lights on. Be aware of your surroundings and trick-or-treat in familiar, well-lit areas.

• Make sure that everyone can easily be seen in low light: Apply stripes of reflective tape across the front and the back of children’s costumes and adults’ clothing, and wear costumes that are brightly colored.

• Costumes should be completely flame-retardant: This includes wigs, beards, and capes.

• Safety first: Avoid masks that restrict a child’s view or make it difficult to breathe.

• Make sure that costumes fit properly: Loose or long costumes may cause children to trip over or catch on things such as bushes and fences.

• Do not allow children to carry any sharp objects: Use props that are pliable and soft in order to avoid injury.

• Make sure that trick-or-treaters always have one hand free so they can catch themselves if they fall. Use treat bags that can be carried over one shoulder instead of in both hands.

• Children should never eat any treats until an adult has inspected all the candy: Throw away any homemade treats or anything that’s not in a sealed wrapper.

•  If your child suffers from any food allergies, check the packaging for contents that may be adverse to his/her health.

You may be wondering if there are any sex offenders along your trick-or-treating route. You can always check with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) which keeps an updated database with this information.