Home Safety Council Encourages Safety At Halloween

Although Halloween is an exciting time for children, the eagerly-anticipated costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating can also pose safety hazards.

According to Mary Ellen Fise, Product Safety Director for the Consumer Federation of America and Home Safety Council director, "During an exciting time like Halloween, it's particularly important for parents to be aware of potential safety hazards. To help ensure a safe and fun Halloween for your children, select safe costumes and accompany them on their trick-or-treat outings." As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting home safety, the Home Safety Council offers the following tips from The Childwise Catalog, co-authored by Mary Ellen Fise*:

Allow your child to trick-or-treat only at the homes of friends or neighbors you know personally.

Give your child a flashlight to help guide his or her way.

Make sure your child's costume (including wig and mask) is flame resistant.

Apply reflective tape or buy inexpensive wrist and ankle bands to ensure your child is visible in the dark.

Call the Poison Control Center if you suspect your child has swallowed something harmful. Notify the police of any suspicious treats.

Avoid masks, scarves, and hats that obscure vision or restrict breathing. Costume accessories, such as swords and knives, should be of soft, flexible material. Avoid capes that pose a strangulation risk.

Use non-toxic face paints.

Have your child wear sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes rather than high heels or shoes that could cause a fall.

Inspect all of your child's treats before allowing him or her to sample any. Discard anything not in its original and undamaged wrapper. Keep homemade food only if you are certain who prepared it.

Cut open all fruit and inspect for foreign objects, like razor blades.

Consider throwing a Halloween party for your child and his or her friends instead of extended trick-or-treating.

Focusing attention on safety awareness during major and annual events, such as Halloween, is part of the Home Safety Council's mission to increase awareness among consumers of home safety issues and to empower them to make safety in the home a priority. Other initiatives include supporting "HomeWatch,"™ a Home & Garden Television home safety special, and 1-800-SAFE HOME, a 24-hour, toll-free home safety information line. A free safety packet can also be obtained by calling this number.

*Source: The Childwise Catalog (Harper Perennial) co-authored by Mary Ellen Fise, Product Safety Director, Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and a charter member of Home Safety Council, and Jack Gillis, Public Affairs Director of CFA.

© 1997 Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Lowe's is a registered trademark of The LF Corp.