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Stay Safe During Halloween

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

Chances are your children have been chattering about their Halloween plans for weeks now. But have you been talking about safety as part of the preparations?

Here are a few tips to keep everybody happy when you head out for Halloween:

Most store-bought costumes are flame-resistant, but homemade costumes might not be. Be sure to use flame-resistant materials for all costumes, just in case your son or daughter gets a little too close to a jack o' lantern.

Costumes should be in colors or fabrics that are easily visible after dark. If that doesn't work for your little Grim Reaper, stick some reflective tape in a few strategic spots.

Ghosts and princesses have the same problem on Halloween: They both have a tendency to trip on their costumes. Make sure your child's costume isn't too long. And keep accessories manageable; a mask, scarf or toy sword or gun can be annoying — and dangerous. Children might want to leave them behind after photos are taken.

Even babies are getting costumes these days, and they require extra care. Watch out for removable parts that could become a choking hazard, and strings or ribbons that could tighten around an infant's neck. (You also should consider how difficult it will be to change a diaper or take a potty break.)

Kids will love this: It's a good idea to let a child practice wearing a costume before he or she hits the streets for trick-or-treating. That gives you a chance to fix any glitches and to assess how comfortable your kiddo will be.

A staff report

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