National Safety Council, Allstate Insurance Offer Halloween Safety Advice

Allstate Insurance and the National Safety Council offer some excellent guidelines for preparing children and parents for a truly Happy Halloween:

Ensure children under age 12 are supervised by an adult or older responsible youth. Plan and discuss the route your trick-or-treaters intend to follow.
Instruct children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well lit, never enter a stranger’s home and establish a return time.
Drivers should watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
Dress children only in fire-retardant costumes.
Keep costumes hemmed so they don’t cause children to trip. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.
Decorate Halloween costumes with light-colored and light-reflecting material if kids will be out after dark.
Use facial make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
Give children an early meal before sending them trick-or-treating. Tell children not to eat any treat until they return home and - when in doubt, throw it out