Halloween safety tips

Halloween safety tips from the Murphy Police Department are as follows:

• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.

• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible y outh will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.

• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children's companions.

• Instruct your 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 welllit and never to enter a stranger's home.

• Establish a return time.

• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.

• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/ traffic safety rules.

• Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.

• Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.

• Costumes should be loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.

• Costumes should not be so long that they are a tripping hazard. (Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween.

• If children are allowed out after dark, outfits should be made with light colored materials. Stirps of reflective tape should be used to make children visible.

• Masks can obstruct a child's vision. Use facial make-up instead.

• When buying special Halloween makeup, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non-Toxic." Follow manufacturer's instruction for application.

• If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

• Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.

• Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be lightcolored or trimmed with retroreflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.

• Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

• Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.

• Walk, do not run, from house to house. Do not cross yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can present tripping hazards.

• Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.

• Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.

• Give children an early meal before going out.

• Insist that treats be brought home for inspection before anything is eaten.

• Wash fruit and slice into small pieces. When in doubt, throw it out.

These tips are provided by www.nsc.org and the Murphy Police Department.