Around the house:                                                                                                                                                              x    Eerie scenes :  For residents who transform their homes into eerie scenes. Be sure to keep the path leading up to your door free of obstacles for the young  visitors, especially those with masks, who might have trouble seeing in dim light.

x    Pets:  Keep your pets indoors on Halloween to protect them from hazards and preventing them from being aggressive to visitors.                                                                                                                                                X   Pumpkin:  Consider using an inexpensive safety glow sticks for your pumpkin.  Nothing says spooky like a glowing green jack-o-lantern!

Costumes:
It is important that when helping a child pick out a costume, safety should be the main concern.

• Wear a light-coloured or bright      costume, reflective tape or arm bands to heighten visibility.
• Wear a costume that is properly      fitted to reduce the chance of tripping on it.
• Select a costume that is      constructed from flame-retardant materials.
• Make sure your vision is not      restricted. Consider completing your costume with make-up rather than      masks. Masks may require that the eye-holes be cut larger for the sake of      good peripheral vision.
• Shoes should fit properly even if      they do not go well with a costume.
• If a child’s costume requires the      use of props, such as a flexible-plastic sword, make sure the sharp tip is      cut or filed round.
• Glow sticks are also an excellent method to increase a child’s visibility. You might want to consider creating a fun necklace with string to ensure they will want to wear as part of their costumes.
• Accessorize with a flashlight!

If you are unable to take them out yourself, consider asking another parent, an older sibling or babysitter to do the honours for you. Ensuring your child is wearing a watch also allows you to establish an agreed upon curfew.

Before our kids hit our neigbourhood streets, it is important that parents be aware of the route that their children plan to follow.

Teach your children to recognize the places along his/her route where they can obtain help: Police Station, Fire Station or any other well indicated public place.

Although tampering of loot is rare, remind children that they must have their candy inspected by their parents or guardian prior to eating them.

Some Rules for Trick or Treaters

• Bring a flashlight;
• Walk instead of running;
• Stay on the sidewalks (If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left-hand side of the street facing traffic);
• Avoid jaywalking;
• Do not cut across lawns or take short-cuts;
• Take masks off when walking from one house to the next;
• Do not go inside houses and do not get into vehicles;

02/12 THCA: Neighbourhood Watch