| Halloween ranks second only to Christmas as | | | | separated from you. |
| America's favorite seasonal holiday. And with the | | | | Candy |
| "haunting" season just around the corner - it's | | | | Many hospitals now X-ray Halloween candy for free |
| mid-October as I write these words - it seems like a | | | | on Halloween night - a sad and disturbing comment |
| good time to review basic Halloween safety. So, here | | | | on the society in which we live. Your child's health and |
| are a few safety tips about costumes and candy | | | | safety are too important to leave to chance, even |
| that will help make Halloween a safe and fun | | | | though incidents of poisoned candy or dangerous |
| experience for you and your family. | | | | objects inside of candy are rare. |
| Costumes | | | | Make it very clear to your child that he or she should |
| Today's Halloween costumes are more elaborate | | | | not eat any candy until you personally inspect it. |
| than ever. No matter how your child dresses up for | | | | When you do inspect candy, make sure that |
| Halloween - be it as the Silver Surfer of Fantastic | | | | wrappers are intact. If a wrapper is torn, or there is |
| Four lore or Elizabeth Swann of Pirates of the | | | | any other any evidence that a piece of candy has |
| Caribbean - there are several key safety features to | | | | been unwrapped and then re-wrapped, don't hesitate |
| consider. | | | | to throw the candy away. |
| First, make sure you child's costume is made of fire | | | | One way to ensure your child's candy is safe is to |
| retardant material. Candles are common at Halloween | | | | get involved in the Halloween experience on a more |
| and fire retardant material makes it much more | | | | personal level. Instead of allowing your children to |
| difficult for a costume to catch fire should your child | | | | trick-or-treat at the homes of strangers, drive your |
| accidentally brush against a candle or other open | | | | children to the homes of people you know and trust, |
| flame. | | | | where they can collect candy from relatives and |
| Next, no Halloween costume is truly complete | | | | friends. Another option is to take your kids to a |
| without reflective tape. Strips of reflective tape | | | | Halloween party at the home of a friend or neighbor. |
| make it much easier for passing motorists to see | | | | Or, throw a Halloween party for your kids and their |
| your child in a car's headlights. If your child's costume | | | | friends in the safety of your very own home. |
| doesn't have reflective tape, you can upgrade the | | | | Conclusion |
| costume inexpensively by purchasing reflective tape | | | | Costumes and candy are important elements of a |
| at a nearby hardware store and applying it yourself. | | | | safe and fun Halloween. Following the tips above and |
| Finally, don't forget to attach a name tag or other | | | | researching additional topics on your own - traffic |
| label to the inside of your child's costume. Include | | | | safety is one of several good examples - will help |
| your child's name, address and a telephone number | | | | ensure many years of happy Halloweens for you and |
| where you or another family member can be | | | | your children. |
| reached in the event your child becomes lost or | | | | |