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Experts Share A Few Tips For A Safe Halloween

By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

TAMPA - It's the night that closet witches, vampires and ghouls live for a time when dressing as your alter ego is acceptable behavior. So is extorting candy from suspecting homeowners.

Halloween is here, and the safety of all the little ones is on everyone's mind.

Few holidays call for groups of children to parade through the streets at nightfall, but if just a few simple rules are followed, the experience can be safe and fun and reap bags full of sugary goodies.

The Florida Department of Health and Safe Kids Florida have come up with a few ideas to keep everyone safe this Halloween.

Here are some tips for parents and children:

Stay visible. Trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights or glow sticks and carry reflective bags or wear reflective tape on their costumes. Avoid masks that block vision.

Cross streets safely. Trick-or-treaters should cross streets at corners, in crosswalks, always obeying traffic signals. Eye contact should be made with drivers to ensure both the driver and pedestrian see each other. Never run across a street.

If there is no sidewalk, children should walk facing traffic and as far left as possible. Stick to well-lighted streets in familiar areas.

Watch for cars. Always look for cars that are turning or backing up. Never walk between parked cars to cross a street.

Here are a few tips for drivers:

Be alert. Drivers should remember that the most popular trick-or treating time is between the commuting rush hour and dusk.

Drive slower than usual. Motorists should watch for heavier than usual pedestrian traffic, most of which is made up of unpredictable children.

The Department of Health has some advice, too:

Check treats for signs of tampering before children partake.

Don't let children chew or break glow sticks, as the liquid inside may be toxic.

Costumes should be made of fire-retardant material, and makeup should be nontoxic.

Cosmetic contact lenses should be prescribed and fitted by an eye-care specialist. Wearing ill-fitting or improperly sanitized contacts can cause eye infections.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office also has weighed in:

Trick-or-treaters should stay in their own neighborhoods and go with friends to bang on doors for candy. They should only go to homes that have lights on or Halloween decorations outside.

Tell a parent or adult about anything that seems weird or unusual.

Children should try to go out before dark and always stay with an adult or responsible teenager.

Shy away from homemade treats. Stick with wrapped candy or treats such crayons, stickers or party favors.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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